The permanent representatives of EU member-states agreed to extend the emergency border control within the Schengen area by three months until the middle of May.

Immigration and security continue to dominate the political agenda, reported Reuters, cited by BTA.

The Schengen area for free travel collapsed after about 1.5 million migrants and refugees arrived in the EU after 2015 and 2016, which compelled the EU to adopt emergency measures.

Germany, Austria, Sweden, Denmark and Norway (which is not a member of the EU) started to restore urgently control along their borders after September 2015. They received official permission to extend the duration of this measure on Wednesday.

Germany will most probably extend the deadline for emergency border control beyond the additional three months because of the upcoming parliamentary elections on September 24.

The influx of migrants and refugees created a political crisis and sharp contradictions among EU member-states which could not agree on how to share the burden.

We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!