Germany’s Interior Minister, Nancy Faeser, announced that temporary border controls will be implemented at all of the country’s land borders in an effort to reduce irregular migration. The controls will be set up at borders with France, Luxembourgh, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Denmark for a period of six months, extending measures already in place at other borders. Faeser stated that the controls will enable effective refoulement and help strengthen the protection of the EU’s external borders until a new Common European Asylum System is in place.
The decision comes as Germany faces pressure to address irregular migration, with the issue becoming a key political talking-point. The far-right party AfD, known for its anti-immigration stance, has gained popularity in recent years. The border control announcement coincides with discussions on migration policy between the government coalition and the main opposition. The leader of the opposition, Friedrich Merz, has called for comprehensive refoulement measures at Germany’s external borders.
Faeser reported that 30,000 people were turned away since partial border controls were implemented in 2023, and expects this number to increase with the extension of controls. The Schengen area allows for free movement between member countries, but individual states can introduce border checks in cases of public policy or security threats. The effectiveness of the border controls will be monitored closely, as the government works to address the challenges posed by irregular migration.
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