The EU plan to seize control of national borders

When the EU is in crisis, the Commission’s answer is, inevitably, more Europe. So, its response to the migrant crisis is to propose an EU border force that could, in extremis, take over the management of Schengen countries’ borders without permission.

Now, Britain is not in Schengen so this proposal would not apply here. But it is worth considering just how federalising it is. Under this proposal, the Italians, say, could suddenly find the EU manning its borders. It would be a major erosion of national sovereignty.

The Guardian’s Ian Traynor reports that the French and the Germans are backing this idea, which gives it a reasonable chance of success. However, Greece and Italy—the two countries most likely to be subject to these new powers—are strongly opposed.

This proposal could have a knock on effect on the British renegotiation, in that it could reduce the time available for discussion of it at next week’s EU council.