Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said Germany will establish temporary controls at all its land borders in an attempt to curb irregular immigration, expanding the controls it already has in place at some borders.
“We want to continue reducing irregular migration. To do this, we are taking additional measures that go beyond the comprehensive measures that are already in force,” he said.Interior Minister Nancy Faeserin a press conference this Monday.
Temporary border controls will be established at land borders with France, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Belgium y Denmark for a period of six months.
More controls in more countries
The same measures are already in force at the borders with Polandthe Czech Republic, Austria y Swiss.
He Schengen area of Europe allows free movement between member countries, but member states can introduce border controls if they consider there is a threat to public order or internal security.
Faeser states that 30,000 people have been turned away since Germany implemented partial border controls in 2023. He adds that this number will increase now that border controls are extended to the rest of the borders.
Response to the anti-immigration speech of the extreme right
Immigration policy has become a key point of political tension. The order comes at a time when the Chancellor’s coalition government Olaf Scholz faces pressure to take a tougher stance on irregular immigration, as Germany faces a wave of refugees arriving in recent years.
The issue of migration has been a key topic of political discussion. The party of German far-right Alternative for Germanywhich carries a clear anti-immigration message, grew in voting intention and popularity and won his first state election earlier this month in the federal state of Thuringia.
The announcement on border controls comes a day before the government coalition and the main opposition are set to discuss immigration policy from Germany. It is still unclear whether the centrist opposition Christian Democratic Union of Germany will participate in the conversations.
The president of the group, Friedrich Merzhas asked the government to clearly express its intention before the new round of talks takes place: “The Minister of the Interior, the Federal Government, has correctly informed Brussels about the border controls at all of Germany’s external borders. That is correct. But it is not yet clear whether this means that there will be a full return and not a limited one.“he stressed.
Additional sources • Enrique Barrueco (Voice-over)
