EU FOREIGN ministers backed a two-year extension of internal border controls yesterday.

Their support for reform of the Schengen Borders Code follows comments by EU migration commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos that the refugee crisis was easing and urging a return to free movement.

Mr Avramopoulos said although the checks, originally imposed to stem refugee flows during the Syria crisis, had been justified, the reasons behind their introduction “are not there anymore.”