Good call over border control

The obsessions and amateurish behavior of certain officials in the coalition government very nearly prompted certain European governments to put into effect a plan that would lead to Greece’s complete isolation by ousting it from the visa-free Schengen zone.

Greece’s borders are also Europe’s borders and there is absolutely no threat to the national interest if the task of guarding them is taken on by the European border agency, Frontex, as well as the authorities of this country. Quite the opposite, in fact.

However, the combination of nationalist fervor stoked by myriad phobias, insecurities and an absence of professional standards and behavior often leads to the wrong decisions.

It is a good thing that Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras made the right decision when he gave the green light for European border guards to help bring the situation in the country’s north under control after tensions started reaching boiling point.