Schengen

The two-decade-old era of border-free travel in Europe was unravelling on Sept. 14 as countries imposed controls on their frontiers in response to an unprecedented influx of migrants. 

Germany imposed border checks on Sunday, halting all train traffic with Austria after the country’s regions said they were unable to cope with the migrant into the country. Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere announced the measures following record numbers of refugees, mainly from Syria, had caused the system to reach breaking point.

The European Commission said on Thursday that Bulgaria and Romania both meet the criteria to join the European Union's Schengen passport-free travel zone but it is not up to the EU's executive body to take a decision.

EU has no plans to abolish the Schengen system, B92 has been told at the European Commission.

As stated, no member has informed the European Commission about a temporary reintroduction of border controls.

Austria has introduced controls of trucks at its eastern border after the recent tragedy in which 71 refugees lost their lives in a truck driven by traffickers.

Since Sunday evening, Austria has been implementing checks that were in place before the Schengen Agreement came into force.

Jean Asselborn, Minister of Immigration and Asylum of Luxembourg, has expressed deep skepticism about the possibility of even a partial accession to Schengen of Bulgaria.

Bulgaria seeks to secure partial Schengen membership by October, according to Meglena Kuneva, Deputy Prime Minister for European Policies Coordination and Institutional Affairs.

Kuneva and Hristo Ivanov, Bulgaria's Justice Minister, have arrived in the Netherlands for a one-day working visit.

Deputy Prime Minister Meglena Kuneva said on Tuesday that there was high likelihood for the country to achieve accession to the Schengen Area by the end of the year.

Kuneva stated this while on a visit to the city of Burgas, where she inspected the levels of security at the Port of Burgas and the airport.

Prime Minister Victor Ponta on Tuesday said that Romania has the support of the European Commission and the European Parliament concerning the accession to the Schengen area, however it still has to persuade "one or two member states" which "still have reserves" in this regard.

Photo credit: (c) Angelo BREZOIANU / AGERPRES PHOTO

Luxembourg's Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn on Wednesday said all the European Union member states that are 100 per cent fulfilling the technical criteria for joining the border-free Schengen Area should be allowed to do so, provided there is also political will.

Photo credit: (c) Radu TUTA / AGERPRES ARCHIVE