Schengen on the brink of collapse: Austrian minister
Austrian Interior Minister Johanna Mikl-Leitner says that Europe’s passport-free travel system in the 26-country Schengen area may collapse.
Mikl-Leitner made the comment following an eight-hour-long EU interior ministers meeting held in the Dutch capital Amsterdam, The Guardian reported on Tuesday.
The talks were held over the possible extension of national border controls in the Schengen zone to deal with the influx of refugees pouring into Europe.
In a bid to curb the influx of asylum seekers, several EU states, including Germany and Austria, have introduced a border checking system due to expire in May.
According to Dutch Migration Minister Klaas Dijkhoff, EU governments are calling on the European Commission for authorization to extend the border controls past the May expiry date.
Such a move would deal a severe blow to the Schengen system’s main principle of free travel within Europe.
“These measures are inevitable at this point in time,” said Dijkhoff.
The EU is facing its worst refugee crisis since World War II with more than a million estimated to have entered the continent in 2015 while a record number is expected for this year.
Russia: Poland’s talks on hosting US nuclear weapons ‘dangerous’
‘Europe could die’, President Macron warns at Sorbonne University
European Parliament members criticize EU as 'accomplice’ in Israeli war on Gaza
Iranian students voice solidarity with pro-Gaza rallies in West
Iran slams US ‘violent crackdown’ on pro-Palestine student protests
Russia says shot down 17 Ukrainian drones
VIDEO | Pakistan's opposition groups warn US against interference
‘Mandela cause still alive’: Iran FM hails South Africa’s pro-Palestine stance
Thousands call on UK government to stop arming Israel
Israel agitated ICC could issue arrest warrant for Netanyahu
US internal memo hints Israel in violation of international law
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
