Greece to exit Schengen area, if it fails to control its borders within 3 months, says EU
The EU report showed that the country has “seriously neglected its
obligations, and that there are serious deficiencies…in external border
controls”
The College of Commissioners discussed on Wednesday a draft Schengen Evaluation Report on Greece.
After the meeting vice president of the Commission Valdis Dombrovskis told reporters that a draft report on Greece, prepared after an evaluation mission in November, showed that the country has “seriously neglected its obligations, and that there are serious deficiencies…in external border controls,”.
Even though Greece has made efforts since November, there are more things to be done on the areas of reception and processing of asylum seekers, Mr Dombrovskis said.
Mr. Dombrovskis said that on Monday EU interior ministers asked Commission to draft an evaluation report for Greece recommending remedial actions.
The report will be presented to European Council which will allow the Commission to draft a list with recommendations for remedial action to address any deficiencies identified during the evaluation.
If, after three months, serious deficiencies persist and the measures taken have not proved sufficient to ensure the adequate remedy of these deficiencies, the Commission may trigger the application of the procedure provided for in Article 26 of the Schengen Borders Code.
Under Article 26 of the Schengen Borders Code, if the measures under Article 19a have not been effective, the Council may, based on a proposal from Commission, recommend that Greece reintroduce border controls at all or at specific parts of its internal borders as a matter of last resort, to protect the common interest of the Schengen area. The Council recommendation needs to be adopted by qualified majority.
Under Article 26, and in exceptional circumstances, controls can be reintroduced for a period of up to six months. This measure can be prolonged for additional six month periods up to a maximum duration of two years.
The EU report showed that the country has “seriously neglected its
obligations, and that there are serious deficiencies…in external border
controls”The College of Commissioners discussed on Wednesday a draft Schengen Evaluation Report on Greece.
After the meeting vice president of the Commission Valdis Dombrovskis told reporters that a draft report on Greece, prepared after an evaluation mission in November, showed that the country has “seriously neglected its obligations, and that there are serious deficiencies…in external border controls,”.
Even though Greece has made efforts since November, there are more things to be done on the areas of reception and processing of asylum seekers, Mr Dombrovskis said.
Mr. Dombrovskis said that on Monday EU interior ministers asked Commission to draft an evaluation report for Greece recommending remedial actions.
The report will be presented to European Council which will allow the Commission to draft a list with recommendations for remedial action to address any deficiencies identified during the evaluation.
If, after three months, serious deficiencies persist and the measures taken have not proved sufficient to ensure the adequate remedy of these deficiencies, the Commission may trigger the application of the procedure provided for in Article 26 of the Schengen Borders Code.
Under Article 26 of the Schengen Borders Code, if the measures under Article 19a have not been effective, the Council may, based on a proposal from Commission, recommend that Greece reintroduce border controls at all or at specific parts of its internal borders as a matter of last resort, to protect the common interest of the Schengen area. The Council recommendation needs to be adopted by qualified majority.
Under Article 26, and in exceptional circumstances, controls can be reintroduced for a period of up to six months. This measure can be prolonged for additional six month periods up to a maximum duration of two years.