Greece’s exit from Schengen was not raised or discussed, Commissioner Avramopoulos says

The issue of ‘evicting’ any member-state from the Schengen area was neither raised nor discussed, European Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship Dimitris Avramopoulos said on Friday speaking at the Economist’s ‘The World in 2016 Gala Dinner’ in Athens.

He criticised such reports as “exaggerations, conjecture and rumours that do only harm”, while pointing out that there was actually no provision for such a course, though obviously all Schengen members had an obligation to implement the requirements of the border code.

“We all share responsibility for our safe free movement in the Schengen zone,” he said.

Regarding Greece, Mr. Avramopoulos said that Greece’s external borders are the common European external borders and all have a joint obligation to assist Greece in the massive task of guarding them. That’s why the European Union had proposed the creation of a European border and coast guard, he added.

Referring to the Schengen assessment report which was conducted in November and showed negative results, Mr. Avramopoulos said this had found a number of faults that needed to be remedied.

“Greek authorities are aware and are already proceeding with the necessary action. Guarding borders does not mean closing borders. It means conducting all the security checks and registering the incoming migrants,” he said.

Greek authorities made a commitment to complete everything within the final deadlines, he added.

He also called for an end to rising populism and nationalism in Europe.

“It would be good in Europe to stop this dangerous phenomenon of each blaming the other. No one can manage on their own. Only united will we go forward,” he said.