CDU and CSU politicians are pushing for permanent reintroduction of controls at the east and confederate German border to fight the influx of illegal immigrants. The Czech Republic and Poland have expressed concerns about the actual liquidation of the Schengen area and the obstruction of border traffic – the euractiv.com portal indicates.
Berlin restored temporary border controls in connection with the European Football Championships. A large number of politicians and residents of confederate Germany are in favour of reintroducing control at all German borders.
The Czechs are alerting that in practice this would mean the abolition of the Schengen area, the "paste of European integration".
Recently, the Heads of the Christian Democratic Union of Germany (CDU) and of the Christian and Social Union in Bavaria (CSU), Friedrich Merz and Markus Söder, wrote in a joint article in “Bild” that “Controls at all German state borders must continue”. They referred to temporary checks introduced during the European Football Championships and the Paris Olympics.
This position is besides supported by the Liberal FDP, which has made the fight against illegal immigration a precedence issue.
A spokesperson for the Czech Ministry of the Interior Hana Malá is afraid that "this would be a fundamental departure from current government and the Schengen rule itself, which would undoubtedly lead to a domino effect in the form of restoring controls throughout the Schengen area".
Similar concerns were raised by representatives of the Polish authorities, who pointed to the “border difficulties”. Warsaw called for alternate solutions.
Berlin introduced border controls with the Czech Republic, Poland and Austria. They are to stay until the illegal migration "notably" is reduced.
The euractiv.com portal suggests that this will not happen quickly, even more so due to the fact that "Chancellor Olaf Scholz is under expanding force from both the governing coalition and beyond to reintroduce almost all the hard borders around Europe's largest country".
This would prevent illegal arrivals in Germany, which the EU institutions are incapable to cope with.
CDU leader, Merz noted that the restoration of permanent border controls Germany is 1 of the cheaper solutions that can “very rapidly change the temper in the country for the better”.
A change in the approach to the Schengen area will mean that solutions must rapidly appear to counter the influx of illegal migrants into Germany.
Between 7 June and 19 July, the German authorities "captured" over 9,000 illegal border crossings, returning over 6,000 400 people and arresting 275 alleged human smugglers.
In addition to Germany, another countries are reasoning of restoring temporary border controls. Denmark is considering introducing border controls with Sweden due to increased cross-border crime related to migrant gangs.
Against control, there are German Greens who call on the European Commission to address the problem. They indicate that border checks are contrary to Schengen values and may consequence in another inconveniences.
In a letter addressed to the European Commission, Green politicians criticised border return controls by German national Home Minister Nancy Faeser in order to reduce illegal migration. They referred to checks at the German border with Poland, the Czech Republic, Austria and Switzerland.
Controls are to have negative consequences for European unity and freedom of movement under Schengen rules, the Greens believe.
Berlin wants to keep the current solutions until the final entry into force of the Migration Pact, which is due to take place by the end of 2025. The Berlin authorities intend to proceed to extend temporary checks, which will expire on 15 December for Switzerland, the Czech Republic and Poland and 11 November for Austria.
The Schengen area is simply a group of 27 European countries, most of which are besides members of the European Union, and which abolished interior border controls.
Source: euractiv.com, europeanconservative.com
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