Prague, Sept 13 (CTK) – The EU has failed to observe its own rules and effectively protect Schengen’s outer border when tackling the migration crisis, which is why operational steps must be taken now to enhance particular states’ security and cope with the refugee stream, Czech PM Bohuslav Sobotka said Sunday.
He reacted to Germany’s temporary renewal of checks on its border with Austria over a wave of refugees.
In reaction to this, the Czech Republic is reinforcing its police on the Czech-Austrian border, Sobotka (Social Democrats, CSSD) said.
“I hope that the German decision will step up the pressure for a joint European approach that would enable to better regulate the current migration stream as early as on the external borders of Europe,” Sobotka said.
He said dignified conditions for asylum seekers should be ensured on the external borders, so that war refugees could be distinguished from economic migrants.
Sobotka, like previously the Czech police, said he expected Germany to re-launch border checks.
“The step reacts to the tension that has been provoked inside the Schengen area by the migration crisis and the strong stream of refugees heading to Germany via Hungary and Austria in the past weeks,” Sobotka said.
In view of this, the Czech Republic will toughen the police checks focusing on refugees in the regions bordering on Austria (South Moravia and South Bohemia), Sobotka said.
“The government will be regularly assessing the situation and take further necessary security measures in the case of need,” he added.
