In the Schengen area, controls are actually only planned at the external borders. But that has long since been circumvented. Germany is now extending its controls to the western border as well.
To combat illegal immigration, Germany has expanded its existing border controls in the east and south of the country to the west and north. Since midnight, officials have been carrying out checks at the border crossings to Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Denmark. “In my view, this measure is urgently needed to further reduce irregular migration,” said Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) on Sunday evening.
The additional checks will initially last for six months. They will be random and will have as little impact as possible on commuter and tourist traffic as well as on the economy and trade.
The controls are flexible, “depending on the current situation and security requirements,” explained a spokeswoman for the Federal Ministry of the Interior in Berlin. The situation is being continuously assessed. “There are therefore no comprehensive controls. There is not a federal police officer at every border crossing stopping all traffic.” There are also no closed borders.
Schengen actually has no border controls
Border controls are not generally provided for in the Schengen area. So far, the federal police have only carried out checks at the borders with Poland, the Czech Republic, Austria, Switzerland and, most recently, France because of the Olympic Games in Paris. But other Schengen states also carry out checks at their land borders. They justify this partly with the aim of limiting irregular migration, partly with the threat of Islamist terrorism or with risks in the context of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine.
Unexpected success at the border with the Netherlands
According to the Federal Police, permanent checkpoints have been set up in Lower Saxony, including on the A30 motorway near Bad Bentheim for people entering from the Netherlands. In North Rhine-Westphalia, for example, federal police officers checked people entering from Belgium on the A44 motorway near Aachen. And in Schleswig-Holstein, officers were already stationed at the Ellund/Frøslev border crossing on the A7 for three hours during the night.
The police in Lower Saxony had an unexpected success at the new checkpoints: they caught three drug smugglers who, according to police reports, initially evaded the check on the A30 motorway near Bad Bentheim and then fled. However, officers were able to stop them about 30 kilometers away.
What the controls are intended to achieve
Stationary border controls make it possible to turn people away and prevent them from entering the country. This is less costly than ensuring that someone who has entered Germany illegally leaves again. According to the Federal Ministry of the Interior, there have been more than 30,000 rejections at the German borders since October 2023. Foreigners who do not apply for asylum and those who are subject to an entry ban are currently being turned away. The traffic light coalition had rejected a demand by the Union parliamentary group for more comprehensive rejections due to concerns about European law.
Chancellor speaks with neighbouring countries
Neighbouring countries such as Austria and Poland have expressed concerns about the expansion of border controls. However, Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) has said he has begun to discuss the issue very carefully with the heads of the neighbouring countries and also with EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
“Everyone knows that we are operating within the framework of European law, but we are making the most of our opportunities,” said Scholz on Sunday evening during his trip to Uzbekistan. “Everyone understands that the number of people coming to Germany is too large and that it is therefore in the German government’s understandable interest to ensure that we get these things under control through good management of irregular migration.” This includes such controls.
Criticism from the Greens and the Left
The Greens are critical of the measures. “It is questionable how effective border protection can be, especially given the staffing levels of the federal police,” North Rhine-Westphalia’s Deputy Prime Minister Mona Neubaur told the “Tagesspiegel”.
The Left Party’s leader Janine Wissler predicted “gigantic traffic jams in border traffic.” A chain reaction from other EU countries is also to be expected. “The barriers could soon be lowered everywhere,” warned Wissler. Tens of thousands of refugees could be stranded at the EU’s external borders in countries like Italy or Greece.
Union demands further measures
The Union considers the controls to be inadequate. It is demanding comprehensive rejections at the borders. “Controls alone are not enough. Refusing the traffic light for comprehensive rejection is a capitulation,” said the head of the CSU MPs in the Bundestag, Alexander Dobrindt, to the “Bild” newspaper.
CDU Chairman Friedrich Merz confirmed his fundamental openness to a top-level meeting with Chancellor Scholz. He had declared his willingness to do so, he said on the ZDF program “Berlin direct”. Federal Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP) had suggested a new attempt at the highest level after the failure of the migration talks between the government and the Union.
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
