Germany has unveiled plans to implement more stringent border controls across its land frontiers, set to commence on September 16, 2024. This decision, announced by Interior Minister Nancy Faeser, aims to address concerns over illegal immigration and enhance national security within the Schengen zone.
The new measures, initially slated for a six-month period, include a scheme enabling authorities to reject more migrants directly at German borders. Faeser stated, "We are strengthening internal security and continuing our hard line against irregular migration." This move reflects Germany's evolving stance on migration policy since the 2015-2016 crisis when over a million people, primarily from war-torn countries like Syria, sought asylum in the country.
The decision comes against a backdrop of political pressure and rising support for far-right parties. The Alternative for Germany (AfD), founded in 2013, recently achieved a significant milestone by winning a state election in Thuringia, marking the first time a far-right party has done so since World War II. With upcoming elections in Brandenburg, migration has become a top concern for voters, putting pressure on Chancellor Olaf Scholz's government to address the issue.
Germany's approach to migration has undergone significant changes in recent years. Following the automatic granting of asylum to approximately one million Ukrainians fleeing Russia's 2022 invasion, the country has implemented stricter measures. These include tighter deportation rules and the resumption of deportations to Afghanistan, which had been suspended in 2021 due to human rights concerns following the Taliban's return to power.
The new border controls could potentially strain European unity, particularly if they lead to Germany requesting other countries to accept substantial numbers of asylum seekers and migrants. Under EU regulations, Schengen area countries are only permitted to introduce border checks as a last resort to address threats to internal security or public policy.
Germany's extensive 3,700-kilometer land border, shared with nine countries, presents a significant challenge for implementing these controls. The government reports that existing controls on borders with Poland, the Czech Republic, Switzerland, and Austria have already resulted in the return of 30,000 migrants since October 2023.
"There's no room for manoeuvre there."
This response from Austria highlights the potential difficulties Germany may face in implementing its new policies, as neighboring countries may be reluctant to accept returned migrants.
The effectiveness of these measures remains to be seen. Susan Fratzke from the Migration Policy Institute suggests that while the immediate impact on migrant turnbacks may be limited, the controls could serve as a deterrent and potentially lead to more returns to other European countries in the future.
It's worth noting that asylum applications in Germany have already decreased by 21.7% in the first eight months of 2024, according to government statistics. This trend, combined with the new border measures, reflects Germany's ongoing efforts to balance humanitarian obligations with domestic concerns over immigration and security.
As Europe's largest economy and a key player in the EU, Germany's approach to migration will likely have far-reaching implications for the continent's broader immigration policies and inter-state relations in the coming years.