The European Union agreed on Friday to extend temporary
border controls inside the bloc's free-travel zone for another
three months to help cope with the migration crisis.
Last month, the European Commission, which proposes legislation,
recommended that Austria, Denmark, Germany, Sweden and non-EU
Norway be allowed to continue carrying out border checks beyond
Nov. 15, when the checks were due to end.
All of the countries are members of the Schengen zone where
passport checks are not required. The internal controls were
re-imposed to halt the flow of undocumented migrants through Europe
after landing in Greece or Italy.
The European Council, made up of the heads of the member states
of the 28-country EU and the head of the Commission, approved the
recommendation.
"The Council has today adopted the Commission's proposal to
prolong proportionate controls at certain internal Schengen borders
in Germany, Austria, Sweden, Denmark and Norway," the Commission
said in a statement.