Athens-Berlin ties on the mend after travel checks rift
A recent rift between Athens and Berlin over increased security checks on travelers arriving in Germany from Greece appears to be on the mend following a meeting between representatives from the two countries and an official at the European Commission in Brussels on Thursday.
Spokesperson Natasha Bertaud hailed reassurances from both sides to take steps to ease the tension that grew after Athens lodged a demarche with Berlin last week saying that the checks contravene Schengen Agreement procedures. The German Foreign Ministry has said that the measure was taken after airport authorities blocked more than 1,000 illegal entries from Greece in the January-October period.
On Thursday, Germany pledged to check crew and passengers’ passports in the airport arrivals areas and not, as some disgruntled Greeks reported, outside. Greece, for its part, said it would increase security checks at its own airports.
