- Sputnik International
World
Get the latest news from around the world, live coverage, off-beat stories, features and analysis.

Greece Threatened With Schengen Zone Suspension Over Refugee Crisis

© REUTERS / Christian Hartmann A pensioner argues with an official as he tries to enter a National Bank branch to receive part of his pension in Athens, Greece, July 6, 2015.
A pensioner argues with an official as he tries to enter a National Bank branch to receive part of his pension in Athens, Greece, July 6, 2015. - Sputnik International
Subscribe
Months after Greece was threatened with expulsion from the Eurozone at the height of the country's debt crisis, Athens is reportedly now being threatened with suspension from the free movement Schengen zone over its handling of the influx of refugees and migrants entering the country.

According to the Financial Times, several EU officials, including Luxembourg's foreign minister Jean Asselborn, warned Greece that unless it improved the conditions for refugees entering the country and boosted border controls, then it could face suspension from the 26-state free movement zone.

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico seemingly backed the veiled threats of Greece's suspension from the Schengen.

"We just cannot put up with a member country that has openly given up on safeguarding the Schengen area borders. Then Schengen is of no use."

During a meeting in Brussels this week, EU ministers are expected to ask Greece to step up efforts to control the flow of migrants and refugees into Europe, improve the registration of refugees and boost cooperation with the EU on the issue.

More than 740,000 people have arrived on Greek shores this year, including many on Greek islands in the Mediterranean.

© REUTERS / Alexandros AvramidisRefugees and migrants line up inside a camp, as they wait to cross Greece's border with Macedonia near the Greek village of Idomeni, November 10, 2015
Refugees and migrants line up inside a camp, as they wait to cross Greece's border with Macedonia near the Greek village of Idomeni, November 10, 2015 - Sputnik International
Refugees and migrants line up inside a camp, as they wait to cross Greece's border with Macedonia near the Greek village of Idomeni, November 10, 2015

However the country, battling its own economic crisis, has struggled to provide adequate services to many refugees arriving on Greek shores, with serious humanitarian concerns over the conditions greeting migrants.

Greece Hits Back

Despite criticism from EU officials and other member states, Greek officials have defended the country's actions in the trying circumstances, noting that there had been private threats made over possible suspension from the Schengen zone.

"It is not said officially, but there is pressure," Greek Migration Minister Yiannis Mouzalas said.

"These are very common lies for Greece… This blame game towards our country is unfair."

Mouzalas defended Greece's handling of the refugee crisis, saying the country had spent an extra US$1 billion in additional unbudgeted funds to help with the refugee crisis, despite the country's strained economic state.

He added that so far only US$30 million worth of EU assistance had reached Athens due to bureaucracy on both sides.

Despite threats to suspend or expel Greece from the Schengen zone, Estonian Prime Minister Taavi Roivas warned against such action, telling Reuters that suspending Greece from the free movement zone would not be helpful.

"The problem is definitely there and I do know that we need to work together to solve it. But building fences between us is not a long-term solution."    

Newsfeed
0
To participate in the discussion
log in or register
loader
Chats
Заголовок открываемого материала