Schengen: Civil Liberties MEPs to debate new extension of internal border checks

Civil Liberties Committee MEPs will question Council and Commission representatives on Thursday about the decision once again to prolong internal border checks in place in five countries in the Schengen passport-free area for another three months, until mid-May.

On Tuesday 7 February, following a proposal by the Commission, the Council agreed that Austria, Germany, Denmark, Sweden and Norway should prolong “proportionate temporary border controls for a maximum period of three months” at a series of specified internal borders.

These exceptional measures were first introduced for an initial period of six months in May 2016, in response to growing migratory flows, and have already been extended twice, despite the Commission’s assurance that the aim was to lift them by the end of 2016 at the latest.

The exchange of views with representatives of the Council and the Commission will take place on Thursday between 14.00 and 14.45, in the Paul-Henri Spaak room (3C050).

The Civil Liberties Committee meeting will be web-streamed. You can follow the presentations via .

Note to editors

Under Article 29 of the Schengen Borders Code, internal checks may be reintroduced to prevent security threats, but only “as a last resort” and in exceptional circumstances, where the overall functioning of the Schengen area is at risk due to serious deficiencies in external border controls. These measures can be applied for up to six months and prolonged no more than three times, for a further period of up to six months, if the exceptional circumstances persist.

France is also doing checks at all its internal borders, in view of the “permanent terrorist threat”, until15 July 2017, but these are dealt with by a separate decision.

REF. : 20170207IPR61521

Updated: ( 07-02-2017 - 17:18)