In this Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2017 photo, a Syrian refugee woman cuts vegetables while her husband checks his mobile phone at their tent in Kalochori refugee camp on the outskirts of the northern Greek city of Thessaloniki. (AP Photo/Muhammed Muheisen)
The Associated Press
BRUSSELS (AP) - The European Commission is recommending that 5 nations from the borderless Schengen travel zone be allowed to extend internal frontier controls for another three months because of the exceptional circumstances caused by migration into Europe.
The European Union's executive said Wednesday that EU nations Austria, Germany, Denmark and Sweden and non-member Norway should be allowed to continue the border checks since the arrival of migrants and asylum-seekers into those countries is still significant. The EU Commission specially mentioned Greece, which still has some 60,000 refugees and migrants.
EU Migration Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos said the situation had much improved over the past months but added "we are not there yet unfortunately" when unfettered border crossings should become the norm again.
In this Friday, Jan. 20, 2017 photo, Syrian refugee Ahmed Mohammed, 40, cooks outside his tent in Kalochori refugee camp on the outskirts of the northern Greek city of Thessaloniki. (AP Photo/Muhammed Muheisen)
The Associated Press
In this Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2017 photo, Syrian refugee women attend a knitting class part of emotional support session provided to them by volunteers from the Refugee Trauma Initiative, in a tent in Frakapor refugee camp on the outskirts of the northern Greek city of Thessaloniki. Many migrants living in this warehouse tent camp and another one nearby are feeling burned out. They try to keep busy as they dream of a better life in Western Europe and not let boredom or depression set in. (AP Photo/Muhammed Muheisen)
The Associated Press
In this Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2017 photo, a Syrian refugee woman works inside her tent while her daughter left lies on the ground and her other daughter play with her friends, in Kalochori refugee camp on the outskirts of the northern Greek city of Thessaloniki. (AP Photo/Muhammed Muheisen)
The Associated Press
In this Thursday, Jan. 19, 2017 photo, a Syrian refugee child sits in a stroller outside his family's tent in Kalochori refugee camp on the outskirts of the northern Greek city of Thessaloniki. (AP Photo/Muhammed Muheisen)
The Associated Press
In this Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2017 photo, Syrian refugee men lift weights while practicing at a makeshift gym in Frakapor refugee camp on the outskirts of the northern Greek city of Thessaloniki. (AP Photo/Muhammed Muheisen)
The Associated Press
In this Thursday, Jan. 19, 2017 photo, Syrian refugee Elan Darwish, 14 months, sleeps inside his family's tent in Kalochori refugee camp on the outskirts of the northern Greek city of Thessaloniki. (AP Photo/Muhammed Muheisen)
The Associated Press
In this Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2017 photo, Syrian refugee Kulnawaz Youssef, 13, looks at herself in a mirror at her tent in Kalochori refugee camp on the outskirts of the northern Greek city of Thessaloniki. Many migrants living in this warehouse tent camp and another one nearby are feeling burned out. They try to keep busy as they dream of a better life in Western Europe and not let boredom or depression set in. (AP Photo/Muhammed Muheisen)
The Associated Press