YOU HAVE TO SHOW YOUR PASSPORT ON THESE BORDERS IN EUROPE: Schengen agreement faces a serious test

Belgium decided to suspend the Schengen agreement which allow the citizens of EU countries to go from a country to a country without their passports.

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With this move, Belgium followed the other countries who had already done this.

Belgium's decision further destabilizes the agreement of free movement - reports Blic news agency.

Before Belgium the same decision was brought in Germany, Austria, France, Sweden, Denmark, and Norway even though it is not the EU member, but it is the part of the Schengen agreement.

Leaders of EU countries thought about suspending the agreement for 2 years because of the migrants crisis which is still going on.

Foto: Tanjug/AP

Some countries would then be able to control the passports unless a miracle happens and the migrants stop flowing in.

Other officials from EU warned that the suspension could further damage the agreement and bring its existence into question.

Ministers of Internal Affairs of EU countries decided about this in January even though  European Commission was against it, stating that the most important achievement of EU, the freedom of movement, should be preserved.

Foto: Tanjug/STA/ Rasto Božić

Germany

This country brought this decision in September 2015 and opened the question of internal border controls in EU.

- Germany is again controlling the inner borders, especially towards Austria - said then the Minister of IA Thomas De Messier.

The purpose of those measures was cutting the number of migrants and the return to standard procedures when people are getting into the country.

The chief reason to do this was the breach of security.

Germany's move is contrary to the principles of the Schengen agreement, which allows the freedom of movement between many European countries.

Foto: Tanjug/Oksana Toskić

France

After the Paris attack on November 13, France called for the Schengen suspension.

Austria

After setting up stronger borders in September, Austria suspended Schengen in January 2016.

The migrants were checked and deported if they did not live up to the conditions asked.

Asylum file is denied to those who cannot get the refugee status and to those who did not file the papers in time.

Sweden

At the beginning of November, Sweden suspended Schengen towards Germany and Denmark.

The authorities decided to deport all migrants who did not have the regular traveling documents even if they had applied for asylum.

(Telegraf.co.uk / Source: Blic)