Greece could be shut out of Schengen over migration threat: Dutch prime minister
If Greece goes ahead and allows large numbers of migrants into the rest of Europe, serious consideration should be given to expelling Greece from the Schengen zone, Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte told parliament on Monday.
Earlier this month, Greek defence minister Panos Kammenos threatened to open the country’s borders to refugees unless Athens is given debt crisis support.
The Greek government also wants to open the borders with Turkey and close its detention centres for migrants without proper paperwork.
Rutte described the threat on Monday as ‘idiotic’ and unacceptable. If Athens presses ahead, Greece could be excluded from the Schengen open border area very quickly, the prime minister is quoted as saying by the Volkskrant.
The Schengen agreement allows people from the 26 signatory countries free movement without border controls.
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