The European Union’s plan to monitor its borders more tightly and restrict entry in reaction to the migrant influx and the Paris attacks is counterproductive and against the spirit of the Schengen system. According to reports, a new EU border force is likely to get powers to intervene and protect a member state’s external frontier to protect the Schengen open-borders zone. The plan is being seriously considered after Greece failed to manage a flood of migrants from Turkey. Better management of these refugees by Athens would have averted the migrant crisis. The Schengen system is devised in such a way that any failure by a member state to strictly monitor entry of visitors will affect the security of the entire zone because the visitors are allowed to move freely without visas.
While the concern of the EU is understandable considering the current security situation and future threats, any major changes in the Schengen system are not desirable. The current situation must be taken as a special case and steps need to be taken to solve it rather than change the system. For example, the migrant deal between Turkey and the EU will help immensely in stemming the flow of Syrian migrants into Europe.
A German y official, in Brussels for a meeting of EU interior ministers, said he expected a proposal from the EU executive due on December 15 to include giving responsibility for
controlling a frontier with a non-Schengen country to Frontex, the EU’s border agency, if a member state failed to do so. Under the Schengen Borders Code, the Commission can now recommend a state accept help from other EU members to control its frontiers. But it cannot force it to accept help, something that may in any case not be practicable.
This plan can meet with some opposition on the ground that the states will have to surrender sovereign control of their territory. While the major countries in the EU are likely to support the move, the opposition is likely to come from smaller members.
Greece should have actually accepted help from the EU in handling migrants. Athens had come under heavy pressure from states concerned about Schengen this week to accept EU offers of help on its borders. EU officials had even warned that Athens might find itself
effectively excluded from the Schengen zone if it failed to cooperate with the eurozone in controlling migration.
The Schengen system is a noble and wonderful idea that must not be compromised or curtailed. It has worked effectively all these years and millions have benefited from the open system. So any curbs on the system must come as a last resort.
The European Union’s plan to monitor its borders more tightly and restrict entry in reaction to the migrant influx and the Paris attacks is counterproductive and against the spirit of the Schengen system. According to reports, a new EU border force is likely to get powers to intervene and protect a member state’s external frontier to protect the Schengen open-borders zone. The plan is being seriously considered after Greece failed to manage a flood of migrants from Turkey. Better management of these refugees by Athens would have averted the migrant crisis. The Schengen system is devised in such a way that any failure by a member state to strictly monitor entry of visitors will affect the security of the entire zone because the visitors are allowed to move freely without visas.
While the concern of the EU is understandable considering the current security situation and future threats, any major changes in the Schengen system are not desirable. The current situation must be taken as a special case and steps need to be taken to solve it rather than change the system. For example, the migrant deal between Turkey and the EU will help immensely in stemming the flow of Syrian migrants into Europe.
A German y official, in Brussels for a meeting of EU interior ministers, said he expected a proposal from the EU executive due on December 15 to include giving responsibility for
controlling a frontier with a non-Schengen country to Frontex, the EU’s border agency, if a member state failed to do so. Under the Schengen Borders Code, the Commission can now recommend a state accept help from other EU members to control its frontiers. But it cannot force it to accept help, something that may in any case not be practicable.
This plan can meet with some opposition on the ground that the states will have to surrender sovereign control of their territory. While the major countries in the EU are likely to support the move, the opposition is likely to come from smaller members.
Greece should have actually accepted help from the EU in handling migrants. Athens had come under heavy pressure from states concerned about Schengen this week to accept EU offers of help on its borders. EU officials had even warned that Athens might find itself
effectively excluded from the Schengen zone if it failed to cooperate with the eurozone in controlling migration.
The Schengen system is a noble and wonderful idea that must not be compromised or curtailed. It has worked effectively all these years and millions have benefited from the open system. So any curbs on the system must come as a last resort.
