SCHENGEN:EU COUNTRIES that have removed border controls will be allowed to reintroduce frontier inspections in exceptional circumstances.
The summit yesterday agreed to bring in a new mechanism for countries who have signed up to the Schengen agreement.
The council has asked the European Commission to draw up by September proposals to “allow for the exceptional reintroduction of internal border controls in a truly critical situation where a member state is no longer able to comply with its obligations under the Schengen rules”. The leaders agreed this safeguard could only be employed as “a very last resort”. The decision arises from a number of recent developments, namely a row between France and Italy over a large arrival of North African refugees which passed through Italy into France; as well as a recent decision by the Danish coalition government (which includes the nationalist Danish People’s Party) to reintroduce some frontier checks.
The draft conclusion laid emphasis on the temporary nature of such controls, saying there would have a strictly limited scope and would operate for a short period in urgent cases: “Noting the difficult situation currently faced by some member states, the European Council reaffirms the need for genuine and practical solidarity towards states most affected by migratory flows.”
Croatia’s accession to become the union’s 28th member state also moved a significant step forward. Leaders agreed that accessions negotiations should conclude by the end of this month and an accession treaty being signed by the end of the year.
In effect it means the ratification process for accession may be completed by the summer of 2013, making it the first of the Balkan states involved in prolonged conflict to join the bloc.