Temporary border controls at Germany’s northern and western borders went into effect on Monday, subjecting all of Germany’s land borders to random inspections as part of an effort to combat cross-border crime and limit irregular migration.
The new regulations require travelers to carry valid identification when entering Germany. Non-EU nationals must meet German immigration requirements to enter the country, which may include the need for a visa. EU nationals, however, will continue to be able to exercise their right to free movement across the EU. The ministry’s statement emphasized efforts to minimize disruptions to cross-border travel, although some traffic delays may be unavoidable.
Notably, border enforcement will not be applied uniformly to all borders. Rather, the state will implement border checks selectively, based on the security situation at any give them.
Ordinarily, borders between EU countries, are free of routine controls as per the Schengen Agreement, which allows for the temporary reestablishment of border controls if there is a serious threat to national security or public policy.
The release from the German Ministry of the Interior states that the border controls are necessary in light of the significant number of refugees Germany has taken in, particularly from Ukraine. However, other political groups have voiced opposition to tightening border controls. For example, the Green Party, a partner in the ruling coalition, argued that the policy conflicts with the Schengen Agreement and violates the freedom of movement granted to EU nationals.
Border checks are already in place at Germany’s border with Poland, Austria, Switzerland and the Czech Republic. These controls will remain in effect. While all border controls have an official expiry dates, the Minister of the Interior has expressed intentions to extend them.
Several EU countries have been tightening border controls in response to the migration crisis that began in 2015, following the upheavals in the Middle East, Africa and Ukraine. Apart from Germany, Portugal announced plan in June to tighten immigration policy to alleviate congestion at its airport. Meanwhile, Hungary, after failing to pay its fines for violating EU asylum regulations, confirmed its intention to send migrants to Brussels and is preparing to sue EU for border protection costs.
