Europe’s Open Borders Are in Serious Danger
t’s been 30 years since the Schengen agreement, the landmark treaty that abolished internal border controls within Europe. Since then, visa-free travel within the Schengen zone has become one of the main pillars of the European project—in some ways, it’s more central than the European Union itself, as some of the 26 countries in the zone are not EU members. But thanks to an unprecedented influx of migrants and concerns over terrorism, the future of Europe’s open borders is in doubt.
JOSHUA KEATING
Today, Hungary dispatched more than 2,000 police officers to its border with Serbia and fired tear gas to prevent record numbers of refugees from crossing into the country. Hungary also recently announced plans to build a fence on the border. The incident follows a violent clash between riot police and migrants on the Macedonia-Greece border last week. The countries on Europe’s periphery are on the front lines of the migrant waves looking to enter the Schengen area, mainly from the Middle East and Africa. Most are looking to travel to prosperous and migrant-friendly countries such as Germany and Sweden. (Relativelyfriendly: Chancellor Angela Merkel this week condemned the increasing number of attacks on asylum centers in Germany.) The migrant influx is bad news for countries on Europe’s periphery looking to join Schengen: Kosovo was recently told it wouldn’t get visa-free status until the refugee influx stopped. More seriously, the crisis threatens the open borders within Europe.
Denmark’s new right-wing government last month imposed new security controls on its border with Germany. France has done the same on its border with Italy. Neither move technically violates Schengen: Under reforms enacted in 2013 in response to a previous surge in migration, countries are allowed to impose temporary controls for security reasons. But Denmark and France’s measures are being reasonably viewed as a sign of things to come.
Some European leaders are calling for a rethinking of Schengen,. Finnish President Sauli Niinistö warned this week that "free movement cannot mean uncontrollable movement." Following the foiled terrorist attack on a train from Amsterdam to Paris last week, Belgium’s Prime Minister Charles Michel called for the rules to beamended to allow more checks of the identities and luggage of passengers traveling between European countries. Others who support Schengen have warned that it will collapse unless Europe can work out a unified response to the migrant crisis.
Italy’s foreign minister stated a few days ago that "what is at risk is one of the fundamental pillars of the European Union: the free circulation of people." German Interior Minister Thomas de Maizière told the BBC that passport-free travel may be“in danger.”
Brussels has so far ruled out any changes. “Schengen is not negotiable,” said a European Commission spokesman this week. EC President Jean-Claude Junckerdenounced those who would undo “one of our very greatest achievements.”
But it’s certainly looking like Europe may have just dodged one threat to its unity—a rush to exit the common currency—only face a much more serious one.
I think European countries and all countries in general should let immigrants pass. I don't see why some European countries are planning on making borders. Hungary also recently announced plans to build a fence on the border (Joshua Keating). I don't think Hungary should do this , because immigrants are people too that need somewhere to live.
ReplyDelete- Sheila Ordukhani per 2
I've heard that Europe has been going crazy with not allowing people to travel passport-free. Some of my friends recently went to Germany, and traveled around Europe as well to see their family. They were telling me about how every time they flew to another country (on their way home) airports would examine your passport and it was just a lot more difficult to travel around. Also, in Germany, they told me how they needed to be with their passports all the time--all this happened in July of this year. Reading this article, I now understand what was the reason they had to go through all of that. I think it's pretty crazy "[to fire] tear gas to prevent record numbers of refugees from crossing into the country" (Keating). Or how "Hungary also recently announced plans to build a fence on the border" (Keating). After so many years of having passport-free travel in Europe, I feel that being stricter on border laws and building fences around the country to protect it would just create a bigger problem because they'll need to worry about more things.
ReplyDeleteMarie Ong, Period 6
I think all countries such as Hungry have every right to put up a fence to keep out immigrants, because of the vast number of refugees. If too many immigrants start to invade all at once it will upset the balance of the population. I think there should be a new approach towards the situation instead of trying to figure out where the refugees should move to and fighting about it, there should be more focus towards trying to end the Syrian civil war and repairing their home. Otherwise the borders of Europe will continue to be "In Serious Danger".
ReplyDeleteBrooke Martinez p5
I support Europe's right to put up a fence and keep out the in coming immigrants if they so choose. I understand that Syria's current location obviously isn't the best; but does not mean that they should make it Europe's responsibility to care for them. In the article it states , "The countries on Europe’s periphery are on the front lines of the migrant waves looking to enter the Schengen area, mainly from the Middle East and Africa. Most are looking to travel to prosperous and migrant-friendly countries such as Germany and Sweden. (Relativelyfriendly: Chancellor Angela Merkel this week condemned the increasing number of attacks on asylum centers in Germany.) The migrant influx is bad news for countries on Europe’s periphery looking to join Schengen: Kosovo was recently told it wouldn’t get visa-free status until the refugee influx stopped. More seriously, the crisis threatens the open borders within Europe." this shows that because of the massive amount of immigrants coming Europe's way of life is changing making it more exclusive and cold.
ReplyDeleteI think it would be a very good idea if the European countries started putting limits and restrictions on their borders. There are so many people trying to immigrate into those countries, but the immigrants don't need to be stopped, just controlled. These security measures don't go against the Schengen agreement because, "Under reforms enacted in 2013 in response to a previous surge in migration, countries are allowed to impose temporary controls for security reasons"(Keating). I believe these countries are just trying to keep their people and country safe from all of the immigrants, which is good, but the immigrants should be able to get a safe passage to where they want to go. After all of the immigration is over with, the countries should go back to their normal open borders. I agree with what the Finnish President Sauli Niinistö, when he said, "'free movement cannot mean uncontrollable movement.'" The countries should definitely be able to put restrictions on their borders without going against the Schengen, during this frantic time.
ReplyDeleteRenee Gibson, period 2
In this article i think that it is important to understand the views of the country. now when it is only a couple thousand of migrants the countries were fine with them crossing their borders, its not that the countries don't want to help but first they have to protect their own countries. and when there is tons of migrants who dont know your laws and dont know your customs trying to change your society i would agree with trying to limit the number of people who they let into their country. I dont think a wall will do much good because letting nobody in will just end up causing rore problems than they began with
ReplyDeleteAfter reading this article I think it's crucial to understand the views of this country. People don't like immigrants in their borders it's almost disrespectful they have to protect their own country. THey can change things they already had a traditions and it makes their country look bad almost. I believe fences around the borders are important and should be done.
ReplyDeleteI think they should look into building walls, or borders. Immigrants should not have the right to come into the countries illegally. It is like the United States and Mexico: Illegal immigrants keep coming into the country. It is not fair to the locals who have to pay to live in this country. Like Finnish President Sauli Niinisto said, "free movement cannot mean uncontrollable movement." (Finnish President Sauli Niinisto) I believe people can move around the countries, it should just be legally and monitored.
ReplyDeleteHailey Powers Per. 1
Europes open border policy is quite interesting and it has worked for quite a while. But with this influx of immigrants is just too much for Europe to handle. Although its fine to let these migrants pass it isn't ok for these people to stay becuase they will kill European culture as a whole. Killing european culture is terrible, it's like taking a work of art and smashing it. From my point of view this open border policy will soon be changed.
ReplyDeleteMatthew Clarke
I feel that a fence will not hold back people from going from country to country. Eventually the fence will break or people will find ways to get around it. Immigration will always be a problem, a fence will not fix that. In the article, written by (Joshua Keating), says Hungary is building a fence to try and border their country. With the evidence stated above, it shows how this is not a good idea.
ReplyDeleteI think that illegal immigrants do not have the rights to just literally walk into someones country illegally. I realize that they have been kicked out of their country but they cant kill the European culture and there could be a lot chaos. It is the same situation with the US and Mexico except we do not have open borders with Mexico. We have a borderline wall separating us from each other. I believe that they will change the open border policy real quick.
ReplyDeleteI support the placement of restrictions on illegal immigrants. "Hungary also recently announced plans to build a fence on the border"(Keating). I support Hungary's decision to take upon this action to secure the protection and welfare of the country.I believe that the countries have worked up their freedoms and culture and these illegal immigrants do not know how to function in these yet. There are too many immigrants to all migrate into the countries and they cannot all live comfortably with the native Europeans. The immigrants would just cause an imposition on the Europeans and many political problems would arrive if these immigrants continue to come.
ReplyDeleteIn this article i think that it is important to understand the views of the country. now when it is only a couple thousand of migrants the countries were fine with them crossing their borders, its not that the countries don't want to help but first they have to protect their own countries. and when there is tons of migrants who dont know your laws and dont know your customs trying to change your society i would agree with trying to limit the number of people who they let into their country. I dont think a wall will do much good because letting nobody in will just end up causing rore problems than they began with
ReplyDeleteIn this article that I read I think that some of the countries should let some of the
ReplyDeleteimmigrants pass. I also think that Hungary should build a wall to protect there self.