Germany has begun reinforcing all land borders to reduce the arrival of migrants and contain possible risks from suspected Islamic extremists, in compliance with Olaf Scholz’s measures.
Germany on Monday began reinforcing all land borders, in compliance with new measures adopted by the government of Olaf Scholz to reduce the arrival of immigrants and contain “possible risks from alleged Islamic extremists.”
Germany has already implemented border controls with Poland, the Czech Republic, Switzerland and France, but from Monday the measures will also apply at border crossings with Luxembourg, Belgium, the Netherlands and Denmark.
The new measures will remain in effect for the next six months, but may continue for longer.
Since 2015, surveillance has been in place at the border between Germany and Austria.
The measures involve a restriction on free movement within the Schengen area, which the Berlin government was obliged to inform the European Commission about.
According to the treaties, such measures can only be applied in cases of extreme necessity and as a last resort, which has not prevented several countries from closing their borders in recent years.
At the end of August, Chancellor Scholz said that the measures should remain in place “for as long as possible”.
According to Scholz, such actions have been “very effective”, arguing that since October 2023 “Germany has prevented the entry of 30,000 immigrants”.
Interior Minister Nancy Faeser has guaranteed that “major traffic complications” will be avoided, a key issue for travellers and especially for cross-border workers.
Police will carry out random checks, following the model already in force on Germany’s eastern and southern borders.
The heightened surveillance comes after several knife attacks, which intensified political debate on the need to tighten immigration policy..
However, several neighbouring countries have criticised Berlin, with leaders such as Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán saying Germany is now implementing policies that Budapest has championed for several years.
For Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, this is a “de facto suspension of the Schengen area.”
Source: Observadora
