By Smartencyclopedia with Agencies
Berlin, September 9, 2024 — Germany has announced that it will extend temporary border controls to all its land borders starting September 16, a move aimed at strengthening internal security and curbing irregular migration. The announcement was made by Interior Minister Nancy Faeser, who confirmed that the temporary controls will be implemented in collaboration with neighboring countries, to minimize disruptions for commuters and border communities.
“We are strengthening our internal security through concrete action and we are continuing our tough stance against irregular migration,” Faeser stated at a news conference. The new border checks will affect Germany’s borders with France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Denmark, initially for six months. This comes as part of the country’s broader efforts to address rising concerns about migration.
Cooperation with Neighbors
Faeser emphasized that Germany will work closely with its neighboring countries to ensure that the controls are implemented smoothly, without significant impact on the daily lives of people living in border regions. “It is important for us to act in close partnership with our neighbors and to minimize the impact on commuters and everyday life,” she said.
Germany, which shares over 3,700 kilometers (2,300 miles) of land borders with nine countries, has had border controls in place with Poland, the Czech Republic, and Switzerland since last year, with similar measures along the Austrian border. These measures have reportedly led to the return of 30,000 migrants since October 2023.
Political Context
This decision follows heightened public concerns over migration, particularly after a deadly knife attack by a Syrian asylum seeker in the city of Solingen last month. The German government, led by the center-left Social Democrats (SPD), has faced increasing pressure to take a tougher stance on migration, particularly as far-right anti-immigration parties like the Alternative for Germany (AfD) have gained traction in recent elections.
The AfD recently secured victories in state elections in Thuringia and came in second in Saxony, signaling a shift in voter sentiment towards stricter immigration policies. Meanwhile, Faeser’s SPD faces an upcoming state election in Brandenburg, where they govern in coalition with the Greens and the Christian Democratic Union (CDU).
A Test for European Unity?
The reintroduction of border controls comes as Europe’s Schengen area, which allows free travel between 25 EU member states and several other countries, faces increased strain from migration challenges. While the Schengen rules permit temporary border checks in exceptional circumstances, such as the COVID-19 pandemic or security threats, this move by Germany raises questions about the future of free movement in the region.
Austria has already voiced its opposition to accepting migrants turned away by German authorities. Austrian Foreign Minister Gerhard Karner declared on Monday that his country would not take in any asylum seekers rejected at the German border. “There’s no room for maneuver there,” Karner told Bild newspaper. “It’s the law. I have directed the head of the federal police to not allow any returns.”
With Faeser stating that the government has developed a new model that could potentially lead to even more migrants being turned back at the border, the coming weeks may test both Germany’s internal political cohesion and the broader unity within the European Union.
Future Developments
While Faeser did not provide details of the new model for returning migrants, negotiations are expected with the conservative opposition on how to proceed. The move towards increased border controls and tighter migration policies is seen as a response to mounting public pressure, but it may also strain Germany’s relationships with its European neighbors if the measures lead to demands for other countries to take back more asylum seekers.
For now, Germany’s border controls are set to remain in place for six months, with the possibility of further extensions depending on migration patterns and political developments.
For more updates on European migration policies and Germany’s security measures, stay tuned.