Era of border-free Europe unravels

VIENNA: The two-decade-old era of border-free travel in Europe was yesterday rapidly unravelling as countries imposed controls on their frontiers in response to an unprecedented influx of refugees.

Germany’s surprise decision to restore border controls on Sunday had a swift domino effect, forcing neighbours to shut their own frontiers as thousands of refugees pressed north and west across the continent.

Austria dispatched its military to guard its frontier with Hungary after thousands of refugees had crossed the border on foot overnight, sleeping in tents and train station car parks.

“If Germany carries out border controls, Austria must put strengthened border controls in place,” Vice-Chancellor Reinhold Mitterlehner told a joint news conference with Chancellor Werner Faymann.

He and Faymann said the army would be deployed in a supporting role.

“The focus of the support is on humanitarian help,” Faymann said. “But it is also on supporting border controls where it should become necessary.”

Slovakia said it too would shut its own borders with Austria and Hungary.

The measures were the biggest threat to the Schengen system, which since 1995 eliminated frontier posts across Europe and ranks alongside the euro single currency as one of the major achievements of integration on the continent.

The 26 European countries in the Schengen area issue common visas and leave the borders between them unguarded. – Reuters