EP Bashes Interior Ministers' Bid to Alter Schengen Rules

The European Parliament has reacted with strong criticism to the agreement reached on Thursday by the Justice and Home Affairs Council that seeks to reintroduce border control within the Schengen zone in case of an emergency migrant influx.

The draft backed by the Home Affairs Ministers would allow a state within the Schengen area to reimpose border controls for six months, renewable for another six "when the control of an external border is no longer ensured due to exceptional circumstances".

The Interior Ministers also agreed that member states themselves should still be the ones to make such decisions.

The European Parliament has described the Ministers' vote as "a serious inter-institutional incident".

EP President Martin Schulz has argued that the Council "disrespects Parliament's powers and is a step in the wrong direction on Schengen," EurActiv informs.

"The European Parliament is deeply disappointed at the unilateral and counterproductive behaviour of the Justice and Home Affairs Council today," he has declared.

ALDE Group President Guy Verhofstadt has warned that the Parliament will examine whether to launch legal action against the Council.

We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!