Schengen

The open borders in Schengen have come under serious pressure while at the same time the European Union is finding it difficult to agree on a new common migration pact. On Wednesday, Germany announced that it would introduce expanded border controls with Poland and the Czech Republic to curb illegal immigration. The German decision comes shortly after France decided in mid-September to double the number of soldiers on the border with Italy. At the same time, France deployed drones and aircraft. This followed a large increase in the number of migrants arriving on the Italian island of Lampedusa. France’s interior minister, Gerard Darmanin, subsequently caused a stir by promising that “France will not accept a single migrant from Lampedusa”. In so doing, France has effectively closed its border with Italy. The announcements come at a time when EU countries still do not agree on their position on a common asylum and migration policy. At a meeting on Thursday, the EU’s asylum policy is on the agenda as an information item. But there is no provision for ministers to take a decision./ritzau/