Berlin (The Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Germany started random checks at its borders with five Western European countries as it aims to crack down on irregular migration, kicking off a system of checks already in place at four other borders.
Police checks have started at the borders with France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Denmark and will persist for the next six months. Germany has already been strengthening border controls with Poland, the Czech Republic, Austria, and Switzerland since last year.
Germany, a member of the European Union, expressed it would expand border controls at nine land borders to prevent irregular migration and crime following recent extremist attacks.
What is the EU’s stance on temporary internal border controls?
According to the EU, member states are permitted to temporarily reintroduce controls at the EU’s so-called internal borders in the possibility of a serious threat, such as internal security. It is also commented that controls should be implemented as a last resort in exceptional circumstances and should be limited in time. Such conditions are often imposed during sporting events, including the Paris Olympics and the European Football Championship.
What are the goals of Germany’s expanded border controls?
Announcing the modifications, Interior Minister Nancy Faeser declared that Germany was “strengthening internal security through concrete action” and continuing its “tough posture against irregular migration.” She signaled the move was aimed at protecting German citizens from the threats posed by Islamist terrorism as well as serious cross-border crime. The move has placed the unity of the European bloc to the test and drew criticism from Germany’s neighbors.
What criticisms have been raised against Germany’s border enforcement strategy?
Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk stated that the introduction of tighter controls at land borders was inappropriate for Poland, adding that Warsaw would demand urgent talks with all countries affected. Both Greece and Austria have cautioned that they would not accept migrants rejected by Germany.
How has Germany’s approach to migration evolved in recent years?
Germany’s Council for Migration cautioned that the plan risks breaking EU law. “The current policy plan of turning back (migrants) seeking protection at Germany’s borders conveys a dangerous form of populism in the migration policy debate,” a statement stated, which called for an “evidence-based discussion on migration policy in Europe.”
Germany’s administration, led by Chancellor Olaf Scholz, has been spurred into action to tackle rampant immigration after receiving criticism for not doing sufficiently to tackle the issue. The country’s path to migration has toughened in recent years, in light of a wave in arrivals – especially from the Middle East and Ukraine – as well as terror attacks motivated by Islamic terror.
