Germany Reinstates Border Controls, Sparking Tensions with Neighbors

Germany has reinstated temporary border controls on its western and northern borders as of Monday, September 16, in an effort to combat irregular migration and cross-border crime. The new measures will apply for an initial six months to the land borders shared with France, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and Denmark. Previously, similar restrictions had already been in place along the borders with Poland, the Czech Republic, Austria, and Switzerland.

According to a report by Reuters, these controls are part of a broader government strategy aimed at addressing the recent rise in migrant arrivals.

 

Flexible Border Checks by Police

Germany’s interior ministry announced that the Federal Police would carry out these checks with flexibility, adjusting their operations according to the current security situation. The goal is to minimize disruptions to daily commuters, travelers, and trade. The ministry advised travelers to carry valid identification, while non-EU citizens should have their visas and other required entry documents ready for inspection.

The reintroduction of these temporary border controls marks another challenge to the free movement of people within the European Union.

 

Criticism from Neighboring Countries

Germany’s decision has drawn criticism from neighboring countries. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk called for urgent talks with other affected nations, expressing concern over the potential increase in asylum seekers and the impact on trade. Austria’s Chancellor Karl Nehammer warned that if Germany began returning more migrants across their shared border, Austria would respond by redirecting more people toward the Balkans.

Border checks with Austria are scheduled to continue until November 11, while those with Poland, the Czech Republic, and Switzerland are expected to remain in place until December 15.

 

Impact of Border Controls

These measures follow a backdrop of falling asylum applications in Germany, which have decreased by 21.7% in the first eight months of 2024. Interior Minister Nancy Faeser credited the decline in part to last year’s introduction of border controls, which prevented over 30,000 unauthorized entries.

In a statement, Faeser emphasized the need for expanding the temporary border controls to cover all of Germany’s land borders. “This decision also aims to address the acute threat of Islamist extremist terrorism and serious cross-border crime,” she added.