MEPs criticise reintroduction of border controls
Resolution seeks to protect Schengen area of border-free travel.
MEPs have called on member states and the European Commission to prevent the reintroduction of border controls in the Schengen area of border-free travel.
The European Parliament today (7 July) adopted a resolution that criticised member states such as Denmark for attempting to reintroduce border controls that “clearly jeopardise the very spirit” of Schengen.
The Parliament’s resolution warned member states that any exemptions from the rules would weaken Schengen and lead to a lack of trust among member states.
It added that the Parliament was in “firm opposition to any new Schengen mechanism with objectives other than those of enhancing freedom of movement”.
Renate Weber, a Romanian liberal MEP, said member states have used the recent influx of migrants from north Africa “as an excuse” to close borders, threatening the future of the EU’s border-free travel zone. “To me, it seems more a subterfuge to avoid addressing the wider issue of a common European asylum and immigration policy including a more effective common EU management of borders,” she said.
The Parliament also called for a new Schengen evaluation system to make sure member states adhered to EU free movement rules.
On 23-24 June, EU leaders asked the European Commission to come up with a proposal on a safeguard clause for the Schengen area.
The leaders agreed on the need for temporary re-introduction of frontier checks in response to the surge in migration.
On Tuesday, Denmark introduced extra customs checks at its land and sea borders. Lars Løkke Rasmussen, Denmark’s prime minister, has said that his government’s decision to deploy extra customs officers would not violate Schengen or mean the reintroduction of passport controls.
Click Here: cheap nrl jerseys