The Local France

EXPLAINED: Which Schengen area countries have border controls in place and why?

Wed, 11 May 2022 13:30:26 +0200

Borders within Europe's Schengen area are meant to be open but several countries have checks in place but are they legal and will they be forced to scrap them? Claudia Delpero explains the history and what's at stake.

€10bn a year: That's the cost if France brought back borders

Wed, 03 Feb 2016 15:55:04 +0100

Re-establishing European borders as a result of the migration crisis could cost France more than €10 billion per year, according to a study published on Wednesday.

EU agrees to France's urgent border demands

Fri, 20 Nov 2015 15:31:03 +0100

France vowed it will maintain beefed-up border controls until the terror threat subsides as EU ministers agreed to boost checks along the bloc's borders and as well as make major changes to Schengen rules.

France says EU must tighten border controls

Fri, 20 Nov 2015 10:22:49 +0100

France joined other EU countries in crucial talks on Friday, with Paris to push for tighter border controls around the Schengen area in the light of the terrorist attacks. "Terrorists are crossing EU borders," said Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve.

France 'won't hesitate' to install border controls

Thu, 17 Sep 2015 11:19:29 +0200

France will "not hesitate" to follow Germany in bringing back border controls over the refugee crisis if it becomes necessary in the coming weeks, Prime Minister Manuel Valls said on Wednesday.

Calls mount for France to bring back its borders

Tue, 15 Sep 2015 17:58:12 +0200

The French government insists its borders will stay open but after Germany's decision to ditch the Schengen system, pressure is mounting for France to take the same step. One expert on migration told The Local it "would be the stupidest thing to do".

France to insist on refugee control centres

Mon, 14 Sep 2015 18:41:30 +0200

French president François Hollande is demanding control centres for refugees be set up in EU border countries like Greece, Italy and Hungary. His call comes ahead of a crucial EU ministers meeting in Brussels.

French and British back closing EU's borders

Fri, 10 Jul 2015 18:26:02 +0200

As Europe struggles to find a solution to the ongoing migrant crisis a new survey shows that the majority of French and British people now want to restore the country’s borders with other European nations.

Immigration in France: Hollande slams alarmists

Tue, 16 Dec 2014 11:24:00 +0100

In his first major speech on the subject of immigration, French President François Hollande blasted the scaremongers "who dream of a smaller, more spiteful France". He also insisted Europe would go backwards if countries closed their borders.

France wants urgent review of EU's borders

Fri, 10 Oct 2014 10:34:51 +0200

Concerned by the increasng number of its nationals heading to the Middle East to fight alongside jihadists France is pressing for urgent reforms to the EU's Schengen travel zone that ould see increased passport checks at Europe's borders.

Scrap Europe's Schengen area, demands Sarkozy

Thu, 22 May 2014 10:35:00 +0200

On the eve of the European elections ex-French President Nicolas Sarkozy came out of the shadows to try to sway voters, calling for an end to Schengen area and the creation of a Franco-German economic bloc to drive the eurozone.

France steps up demands for EU border controls

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 19:06:00 +0200

France demanded the right to stop illegal migration by restoring border controls across the visa-free Schengen area as its election campaign erupted at talks Thursday on Europe's open borders.

France moves to bring back border checks

Fri, 20 Apr 2012 19:44:00 +0200

France and Germany have begun moves to reclaim powers to close their borders for up to 30 days in a simmering battle over immigration pressures on Europe's passport-free Schengen travel zone.

France, Italy violated 'spirit' of border-free Europe: EU

Tue, 26 Jul 2011 14:09:28 +0200

Moves by France and Italy to curb the flow of Arab Spring migrants this year violated the spirit, but not the rules, of Europe's border-free Schengen area, the European Commission said on Monday.