The measure aims to “reduce irregular immigration” in a context of Strong momentum for the far-right party AfD. Germany will extend border controls to all its borders, it announced on Monday, September 9, as Olaf Scholz’s government is under pressure to tighten its asylum policy.
Temporary border controls will be put in place with France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Belgium and Denmark for six months from 16 September, the Interior Ministry said in a press release. They will be in addition to the existing border controls with Poland, the Czech Republic, Austria and Switzerland.
Asylum and immigration policy has returned to the forefront of debate in Germany with the strong push of the far-right AfD party, which achieved record results in two regional elections in early September.
The Solingen attack in people’s minds
Berlin considers it necessary to strengthen controls for “protecting internal security against the current threats of Islamist terrorism and cross-border crime”Two weeks after the attack in Solingen claimed by the Islamic State group, Berlin is also in the spotlight “the limited capacities of municipalities in terms of accommodation, education and integration” refugees and asylum seekers welcomed in the country.
The Ministry of the Interior reported that it had notified the European Union (EU) authorities of these new controls, as these are exceptional measures in Community territory that must be notified to Brussels.
Since the triple knife murder in Solingen, the alleged perpetrator of which is a 26-year-old Syrian who should have been deported, Olaf Scholz’s coalition has shown its desire to take firm action on immigration control.
The government has announced that it will abolish aid for asylum seekers who have entered another EU country before arriving in Germany. Berlin also wants to make it easier to expel refugees with criminal convictions.
