Europe may rethink common visa policy after Paris attack: Official

Paris: The deadly Paris attacks have kicked-off a debate over Europe's Schengen visa policy that allows free movement of goods and people between the 26-member zone.

A French official on Thursday told CNN that Europe may be forced to rethink about its common visa policy in the light of the Paris attack, since it showed how easily the attackers could move between the countries.

Also Read: Islamic State receiving funds from 40 countries, including G20 nations: Putin in aftermath of Paris attacks

The policy has effectively lifted Europe's internal border controls but its external border monitoring lacked effectiveness owing to each country’s different approach toward foreign policy and security, thestar.com quoted experts as saying.

“The problem with the EU is it is caught between being a large group of sovereign nation states doing their own thing, and an integrated supranational entity. Schengen is testing the tensions between those two positions,” the report quoted professor Jim Shields of Aston University, U.K., as saying.

Also Read: 'Hyderabad's Islamic State sympathiser wanted to wage war against India'

The mastermind behind the Friday's attack, which left 129 people dead, was a Belgian national, while one of his associates entered Europe as a Syrian refugee, travelling through Greece, Serbia and Macedonia.

In the wake of the Paris attacks, Denmark, Germany, Austria and Sweden have temporarily reinstated their border controls, even as they face a heavy flow of migrants who have arrived in Europe this year. 

Also Read: From a schoolyard bully to Islamic State extremist: The journey of suspected mastermind of Paris attacks