Germany Says Security Checks to Continue, Greece Must Do its Part

Frankfurt Airport. Photo Source: @Frankfurt Airport

Passengers traveling from Greece to Germany will be subject to tight security checks within the airports’ Schengen arrivals area, with the procedure including only the verification of ID cards and photos, a three-party meeting between Greek, German and EU officials in Brussels, concluded on Wednesday.

All aircraft from Greece have been required to land in specially designated spaces outside airports’ Schengen arrivals area, since November 12, when Germany informed the Commission that it would extend its right to restore border controls for internal security reasons.

According to Natasha Bertaud, European Commission spokesperson for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship, Wednesday’s meeting was “constructive”, with the European Commission expressing “satisfaction” with the talks.

Bertaud added that Greece had also vowed to enforce stricter controls in Athens on all Germany-bound travelers.

Meanwhile, Annegret Korff, German interior ministry spokesperson, said that controls across German airports were imposed for security reasons as sample checks between January and October 2017 had identified 1,000 illegal entries.

Greek officials appear to have known of the decision as German Interior Minister Thomas De Maiziere had informed Greece’s Alternate Minister of Public Order and Citizen Protection Nikos Toskas on October 11, media report.