Russian TV: A bill proposed by Germany and France may impose border security checks in EU countries in an attempt to tackle rising levels of illegal immigration. Many worry the new measures could be another nail in the eurozone’s coffin.
The draft legislation says that the 25 countries party to the European Schengen agreement may reintroduce border controls for a period of ten days if they feel there is a threat to public order.
European interior ministers meet in Luxembourg on Thursday to discuss the Franco-German proposal; French Minister Claude Guéant is expected to defend the controversial bill.
“The Council is due to approve a roadmap to ensure a coherent EU response to continued migratory pressures,” said an EU press release.
Members of the European parliament also carried out a separate vote on Wednesday backing the reintroduction of visa travel for third-country nationals crossing the EU’s external frontiers.
The bill has received a mixed reaction among EU leaders, head of the European council Herman Van Rompuy condemning it as a “populist threat” sweeping through Europe.
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