EU gives Greece 2 weeks to establish control over its Borders
The European Union said Tuesday it has given Greece until April 26 to clarify how it plans to reassert control over its external border or ultimately risk suspension from the Schengen passport-free zone, AFP reports.
The EU wants the plans in place so that Greece remedies by mid-May a series of failings over registering and fingerprinting the hundreds of thousands of migrants who have arrived there from Turkey.
The European Commission, the EU's executive, on Tuesday rapped the action plan that Greece submitted for failing first of all to provide "detailed time-frames" for fixing the problems.
Athens must clearly state which officials are involved in implementing the plan and also show it will properly use EU funds earmarked for the migrant control measures.
"The Commission requests that Greece provide the additional elements and clarifications by 26 April and offers its continuous support to Greece," it said in a statement, which also acknowledged Athens had made "significant progress" in implementing other elements of the action plan.
If Greece fails to remedy the problems by May 12, Brussels could authorise other member states to exceptionally extend border controls in the EU's cherished Schengen area for up to two years, instead of the normal six months.
Such a scenario is outlined under article 26 of the Schengen border code and would in effect suspend Greece's participation in the pact.
Germany, which along with other member states introduced border controls late last year to slow the migrant influx, has extended its measures until May, taking them to the limit under current Schengen provisions.
The Schengen area allows passport-free travel through 26 countries, most of them in the EU, and is championed as one of the bloc's most important achievements.