Czech PM appeals to EU leaders to preserve Schengen

Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka has called on European leaders to make an all-out effort to preserve the Schengen open space. In a letter sent to the heads of governments on the eve of Thursday’s EU summit, Mr. Sobotka said Schengen is a symbol of the EU’s functionality and its demise would undermine public trust in the alliance as well as fueling nationalist and xenophobic sentiments. The Czech head of government said his country was ready to actively participate in securing Schengen’s outer borders and he welcomed the EC's decision to create a common border and coast guard.