Switzerland will not cede jurisdiction over the reintroduction of border controls to the European Commission, Justice Minister Simonetta Sommaruga has declared.
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Arriving in Brussels for a meeting of the Schengen Joint Committee, Sommaruga said such a proposition was “unimaginable” and other countries were also insistent on continuing to decide on border controls for themselves.
Austrian Interior Minister Johanna Mikl-Leitner said “the introduction of controls must remain in the hands of member states”.
However, Sommaruga welcomed the opportunity to discuss proposals by the Commission for changes to the Schengen rules. She said Schengen could only function when all member states followed the rules.
Meanwhile, Bulgaria and Romania were refused admission into the Schengen zone following objections by the Netherlands. All 26 Schengen members must agree before a new country can join.
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