Germany will introduce controls at its border with Switzerland following pressure to reduce irregular migration flows. Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD/S&D) also promised to introduce stationary border controls at the border with Poland and the Czech Republic on Monday.
In September, Faeser announced that German border forces would conduct stationary controls at the border with Poland and the Czech Republic, with irregular border crossings up by about a third in early October compared to last year.
The Interior Ministry has now formally registered the checks with the European Commission, reintroducing yet another set of border controls in the Schengen area. Countries that are part of the area, which includes Germany, have agreed to abolish stationary checks but they can apply for an exception if required
“The federal police can now flexibly deploy the full bundle of stationary and mobile border policing measures,” Faeser announced, citing the need to curb irregular migration and intensify the fight against human smuggling as reasons for her decision.
Checks will thus not come into effect immediately but may legally be instated as required by local forces as per the registration with the Commission.
Meanwhile, the plans to allow for stationary checks and spot checks at the border with Schengen member Switzerland have not previously been widely discussed.
However, local politicians in the border region have repeatedly pointed out that the number of border crossings from Switzerland has risen since 2022.
The decision is accompanied by a six-month extension of stationary controls at the Austrian border, which have been in effect since 2015.
As migrant numbers rise, so does the pressure on Germany’s coalition government to curb irregular migration.
In regional elections in Bavaria and Hesse last week, voters punished all three coalition parties – Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s Social Democratic SPD, the liberal FDP and the Greens – as well as Faeser herself, who was running for the state’s prime ministership in Hesse.
Migration was a decisive factor in this, determining the choice of about one in five voters, according to Infratest Dimap’s exit polls.
In response, the pro-migration Greens also signalled their willingness to change course and show pragmatism on Monday.
“Most people worry [about migration] because it pushes municipalities beyond their capacity,” acknowledged Green co-leader Omid Nouripour, adding that the Greens were “happy to compromise, but only if it helps municipalities”.
(Nick Alipour | Euractiv.de)
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