Greece avoids Schengen exit

A threat to throw Greece out of the border-free Schengen area of the EU was diverted at the last minute when Athens agreed to request help to manage refugees at their borders.

A proposal to allow Schengen states — which do not include Ireland or Britain — to extend border closures from a maximum six months under current rules to two years was discussed by justice ministers in Brussels.

This is a response not just to the refugee influx which has prompted several countries to close their borders, but has become more urgent following the Paris attacks and reports that some of the suspects crossed borders unimpeded.