The European Commission will propose on Wednesday a greater flexibility to restore the checks within the Schengen area without borders, under pressure from Paris and Rome who are concerned about the arrival of thousands of Tunisian immigrants.
Temporary restoration of national borders is a "possibility among others" to be used in exceptional circumstances, "said Commission President José Manuel Barroso, in a letter sent late last week in France and the Italy.
But most said one European diplomat, is that of restoring border controls is clearly signified.
This review could "undermine the philosophy of the Schengen system, which relies on mutual trust between States, but warned Yves PASCOUAU, a European expert on migration issues, in a study released Tuesday by the European Policy Centre (European Policy Center) .
Paris, in conflict with Rome about the reception of migrants in Tunisia, estimates that the current "safeguard clauses" that allow states to reinstate the controls are too restrictive.
France wants such that they can do so not only in cases of "serious threat to public order or national security" - as is expected today - but also in cases of "failure" of a state in monitoring its borders.
A European diplomat cited the example of Greek-Turkish border, which is one of the main crossing points for illegal immigration in Europe.
It is "essential" that the border control at the borders of Europe should be "effective and credible," the text that the Commission should present Wednesday and which AFP has obtained a copy still subject to change.
Temporary restoration of national borders should be "an incitement to virtue to compel these countries to be more rigorous, more demanding," said one diplomat.
A capacity of Frontex?
European Commissioner for immigration Cecilia Malmström should also propose a strengthening of skills and capacity for action of Frontex, the agency responsible for overseeing the external borders of the EU.
Its proposals will then be on the agenda of a meeting of EU interior ministers on May 12 in Brussels before being finalized in June at a summit of Heads of State and Government of the EU.
"The goal is to go as fast as possible to strengthen the governance of the Schengen area," said one diplomat from a major European country.
However, if the proposals are in line with Brussels wanted by Paris and Rome, the debate on how best to implement them is unresolved.France calls for new legislation changing the Schengen code to give more weight to the amendments, while the Commission and some capitals look for a less cumbersome for simple "clarification" of existing rules, according to diplomats.
The German Foreign Minister, Guido Westerwelle has placed limits on changing the rules. "Freedom of movement in Europe is such a success that it should not be renegotiated," he said.
The Schengen Area comprises 25 Member States with three non-EU members (Norway, Switzerland and Iceland, Liechtenstein and soon).It allows more than 400 million citizens to move freely from Finland to Greece, from Portugal to the Polish border, without showing their passports.
The accession of Bulgaria and Romania, initially scheduled for March, is still pending.
