From midnight on Sunday until Monday, controls are in effect at all of Germany’s land borders against irregular immigration and the Islamist threat.
Border controls were already in place on the south-eastern borders of the country, i.e. in Austria, Switzerland, the Czech Republic and Poland. But now they are expanding to the rest of the land border: France, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Denmark.
Home Secretary Nancy Fesser explains that the controls will be “smart” in a bid to reassure border towns that live off the benefits of the Schengen treaty and the free movement of people and goods.
There will be no queues and waiting, he assures, responding to the concern of workers who move between Germany and neighboring countries, some even daily, but also of transport companies who may face additional checks and delays.
As she told the Bild newspaper, “the goal is to further limit irregular immigration, stop traffickers and criminals, identify and block Islamists,” the Social Democrat politician said. In fact, he emphasized that Germany is not taking these actions to “harm Europe” but that it is “acting in coordination with neighboring countries”.
What do border controls mean in practice?
According to a report by the public network WDR of western Germany, based on information from the Federal Police, the checks will be carried out on a sample basis, temporarily and at random points that will change. Every person attempting to cross the border will be able to be checked. That is why those moving across borders should be able to present the necessary travel documents at any time. Vehicle control is also not excluded.
The aim of the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Transport is to avoid traffic congestion and build-ups at the border. However, already border towns, such as those on the border with the Netherlands, Belgium or France, are worried about possible problems in the daily life of citizens, given that cross-Syrian travel for shopping, refueling or medical appointments is part of the common coexistence at the border. .
At the same time, the association of logistics transporters TLN reports to WDR that every day approximately 100,000 trucks cross the borders of Germany and the Netherlands alone, while each hour of waiting costs 100 euros per driver. Having the experience of the pandemic but also of the European Football Championship, during which corresponding controls were also carried out, they fear long and damaging waiting times.
Bell from the police union
At the same time, the powerful police union is issuing an SOS and declaring that it is short on staff and money and that it will be pressed to carry out long-term border controls.
Speaking to the German Editors Network RND, the head of the trade union Andreas Roskopf reveals that the preparations of the German police are not yet complete and this is because the announcement of the Ministry of the Interior caused a surprise. He speaks of the risk of burdening the security forces at the border.
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