European Commission Says Paris Attacks Unlikely to Threaten Schengen Area

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said that Schengen area is under threat, but not because of attack in Paris, but because the border controls are not effectively used.

ANTALYA (Turkey) (Sputnik) — The deadly terror attacks in the French capital will not put into question the existence of EU's borderless Schengen area, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said Sunday.

"Schengen is under threat, but not because of this attack [in Paris], but because the border controls are not effectively used," Juncker told journalists.

He added that people who conduct terror attacks must not be confused with asylum seekers fleeing from violence.

"The one who is responsible for the attacks in Paris, cannot be put on equal foot with real refugees… He is a criminal, and not an asylum seeker. I would like to invite those in Europe who try to change the migration agenda we have adopted, I would like to invite them be serious about it," Juncker added.

On Friday night, extremists wearing explosive belts and carrying automatic weapons attacked several venues across Paris, killing 129 and injuring hundreds of people at restaurants, the Bataclan concert hall and in the vicinity of the Stade de France sports arena.

According to reports some of the attackers were thought to have entered Europe disguised as refugees, seen as a result of weak border controls in some EU member states. This possibility points to the necessity of strengthening border controls, including those between Schengen states.