BRUSSELS -- The European Union executive could allow governments to restore border controls temporarily in Europe's free travel zone under plans presented on Wednesday in response to demands for more national powers over immigration.

The announcement follows calls by France and other EU states to keep migrants fleeing turmoil in North Africa from spreading through the EU, and reflects growing divisions in the bloc over how to tackle migration.

Fuelling a row over the matter are demands by Italy that other EU governments should help it to cope with thousands of migrants who have arrived on its shores this year.

Such calls have raised alarm elsewhere in Europe, as politicians fret about appearing too lenient while voters' hostility to newcomers is growing.

EU home affairs chief Cecilia Malmstrom said restoring internal borders to deal with exceptional circumstances could be one way of addressing sudden inflows of immigrants. "It may be necessary ... (when) a part of the external borders comes under heavy unexpected pressure," she said in a statement.

If accepted, the proposal would impose curbs on unlimited travel within the bloc -- seen as one of the major achievements of European integration.

TACKLING NORTH AFRICA

The proposal is part of a wider plan by the European Commission to address immigration from North Africa, which could rise sharply after unrest and revolts in the region opened up borders that had blocked migrants in the past.

The Commission also wants to improve protection of the EU's external frontiers by giving more power to its border control agency, Frontex.

It is also pushing EU governments to offer North African countries trade and visa incentives in return for more cooperation in securing borders and controlling the outflow of people.

But many EU governments are likely to resist these proposals as politicians are concerned about giving too much ground in return for measures that could take a long time to implement, and the immigration debate is set to heat up further.

Moves to restore controls in the EU's internal-border-free Schengen zone, however, have run into opposition in the European Parliament, with liberal deputies opposing any limits on the fundamental EU right of free movement of people within the bloc.

Countries may already introduce temporary border checks as Germany, for example, has done to stop foreign soccer hooligans visiting football games, if faced with threats to public order.

The new EU rules could provide wider powers to do so.