Germany to Implement Temporary Border Controls Amid Rising Migration Concerns

BERLIN: In a decisive move to address irregular migration and enhance national security, Germany‘s Interior Minister Nancy Faeser announced on Monday the extension of temporary border controls to all land borders. This measure is part of the government’s strategy to bolster internal security and combat extremist threats.

Effective September 16, the new controls will be implemented at Germany’s borders with France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Denmark, expanding upon existing restrictions at borders with Poland, the Czech Republic, Austria, and Switzerland. Faeser emphasized that these actions are necessary until the EU establishes a robust Common European Asylum System to secure the external borders effectively.

Faeser’s announcement follows a series of violent incidents, including a recent knife attack in Solingen that left three people dead and an armed confrontation near the Israeli consulate in Munich. The political climate in Germany has also intensified, especially after the far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party’s recent electoral gains in Thuringia.

In response to the extension of border controls, Dutch far-right politician Geert Wilders expressed support, suggesting that the Netherlands should adopt similar measures. Faeser further indicated that the German government has devised a plan to enable authorities to reject a greater number of migrants at the borders, although specific details of this scheme remain undisclosed.

Austria’s Interior Minister Gerhard Karner responded to the announcement by asserting that Austria would not accept any migrants turned away by Germany, stating, “there’s no room for manoeuvre there.”

This proactive approach underscores Germany’s commitment to enhancing its border security amid growing concerns over migration and domestic safety.