Europe must strengthen its borders after attacks, says Macron

French President Emmanuel Macron speaks to police officers during a visit on the strengthening of border controls at the crossing between Spain and France, at Le Perthus, France November 5, 2020. Guillaume Horcajuelo/Pool via REUTERS

PARIS (Reuters) - Europe must rethink its open-border Schengen area, including a more robust protection of the zone's external frontiers, President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday, after a spate of Islamist attacks in France and Austria.

The tighter controls were needed to curb clandestine immigration, said Macron, adding that the criminal gangs illegally trafficking migrants into Europe were often linked to terror networks.