Germany has reintroduced border controls at all of its land crossings across its nine borders to limit migration and address criminal activities, according to official sources.
Lines of German police vehicles, including cars and vans, have been stationed at the crossing from Belgium into Germany to perform passport checks, with similar measures expected across all nine land borders. This action follows Germany’s decision to temporarily reestablish border checks, effectively halting some aspects of the Schengen zone, which allows free movement among many European countries, particularly those in the EU.
«The goal is to curb migration and protect against the acute dangers posed by Islamist terrorism and serious crime,» stated the Interior Minister, Nancy Faeser, last week.
Richard Koester, head of the Federal Police Inspectorate in Aachen, explained to Euronews: «We shape our measures to be able to act flexibly in time and places. There will not be the same intensity at the same time or in the same places at all times.» He also noted that, in addition to border checks, they are carrying out operations within a 30 km zone inside the border. «It is not expected of us to be everywhere at the same time with the same intensity, but the controls will be done today in the whole border area,» Koester added.
These controls are scheduled to last for six months, although they could be extended. Some officials and diplomats in Brussels have voiced their concerns, suggesting that the move is “obviously aimed at a domestic audience.”
At present, the new checkpoints are not causing significant traffic delays, but travelers are encouraged to have their documents ready in advance, as they may be subject to random checks while crossing into Germany.
If you have any questions or need further clarification about these new immigration and border control measures in Germany, feel free to contact us. We’re here to assist and provide the information you need.
Reference: Federal Ministry of the Interior and Community. (2024, September). Border controls at internal borders. Retrieved October 10, 2024, from https://www.bmi.bund.de/SharedDocs/pressemitteilungen/EN/2024/09/binnengrenzkontrollen_pm2-en.html
