Germany announced this week that it will extend border controls to all its land crossings and turn away more asylum seekers in an effort to reduce irregular migration, marking a shift from its previous open-door policy.
Located at the heart of Europe, Germany shares land borders with nine countries. These new measures represent a setback for the EU’s principle of free movement, a key element of the European project, and could place pressure on regional unity.
Here’s more about the plans, their motivations, and the reactions they’ve sparked:
What did Germany announce?
On Monday, Germany revealed plans to extend temporary controls to all its land borders. These controls will begin on September 16 and last for an initial period of six months, affecting the normally open European Schengen zone. On Tuesday, the government proposed stricter enforcement of EU asylum rules, including detaining asylum seekers while authorities determine whether Germany is responsible for processing their claims. The use of tools like Europe’s shared fingerprint database, Eurodac, would help with these efforts.
However, the government rejected opposition calls for automatically turning away asylum seekers at the borders, deeming such measures incompatible with EU law.
Why now?
Analysts suggest the timing of these measures is not only due to the strain that irregular migration has placed on public services but also as a political move to curb growing support for far-right and conservative opposition parties ahead of state and federal elections. Migration is a key issue for voters in Brandenburg, where elections are approaching, and the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party is leading in the polls. The situation has been intensified by recent violent incidents involving asylum seekers, including a fatal knife attack in Solingen in August claimed by ISIS.
Impact on EU travel?
Travelers should expect random checks on cars, trains, or buses crossing the borders, which could lead to traffic delays. Similar border controls have already been reintroduced by other European countries, and anyone entering Germany illegally could be turned away or detained if they seek asylum.
Experts like Marcus Engler from the German Centre for Integration and Migration Research believe the Schengen area’s free movement won’t end, but its functionality could be reduced.
How did other countries react?
Reactions from neighboring countries have been mixed. Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk called for consultations with other affected nations and more support for securing the EU’s external borders. Poland, however, is not seeking tighter controls on its border with Germany.
Some countries, like the Czech Republic, downplayed the change, noting that border checks will be random. Meanwhile, Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban, a long-time critic of irregular migration, welcomed Germany’s move with a post on X, saying, “Scholz, welcome to the club! #StopMigration.”
Asylum application trends
The EU received over 1.14 million asylum applications in 2023, the highest number since the 2016 migrant crisis. However, applications have decreased in recent months, with May seeing a one-third drop from the previous autumn’s peak. Germany remains the top destination for asylum seekers, handling 22% of all applications, while Ireland received the most per capita.
What’s next?
Germany will need to discuss its plans to detain asylum seekers with its 16 regional governments, as they would be responsible for enforcing these measures. The government also intends to consult with European partners to coordinate the return of asylum seekers. However, it can immediately begin implementing border controls, as it has already notified the European Commission.
