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In a massive blow to Brussels’ much-vaunted Schengen reforms Athens said it did not have the capability to systematically screen the large numbers of people using its ports and airports. Eurocrats have devised a tougher entry and exit system to check both EU and non-EU nationals crossing in and out of the bloc’s external borders in a bid to combat illegal migration and terrorism.

GETTY Greece has asked for an 18-month exemption from new border checks

But Greece’s inability to comply with the new demands has blown a massive hole in the defensive system before it has even properly begun, providing a very public weak link in the EU’s armour. The UK is not in Schengen and carries out its own border checks. According to the Greek website Kathimerini officials in Athens have submitted a request to be exempt from having to enforce the rigorous border checks - the second time it has asked to be let off in just four months.

The Greek police have apparently asked for a massive 18 month exemption from the rules - which came into force in April but have never been implemented in Greece - whilst they get their borders up to scratch. In a document sent to the EU Commission last week they cite infrastructure shortcomings and increased traffic at the country’s 12 airports, including Athens, for being unable to comply. On top of that officers say they are also unable to carry out full screenings at the country’s land borders with Macedonia and Bulgaria, meaning the route northwards into Europe remains unprotected.

Police insist they will continue “targeted” checks of individuals who they suspect of people trafficking or terrorism and say they are not the only country unable to cope with the new rules. But Greece’s status as a gateway to Europe - it was at the heart of the migration crisis before the EU signed a refugee deal with Turkey - make its omission especially troublesome. The rules were brought in by eurocrats to help better protect the EU’s external borders after the migration crisis and international terrorism exposed gaping security holes in the Schengen system.

BORDER-FREE Schengen: Countries you can visit WITHOUT a passport Mon, January 23, 2017 If you are an EU national, you do not need to show your national ID card or passport when you are travelling from one border-free Schengen EU country to another. The Schengen Area is an area comprising 26 European states that have officially abolished passport and any other type of border control at their mutual borders. Play slideshow 1 of 25