Germany maintains border controls despite the European Commission's demands
Berlin has rejected the European Commission’s call to abolish checks at internal borders. German authorities insist on maintaining enhanced controls, citing security concerns and the fight against illegal migration.
German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt spoke out against the Brussels initiative. He called the current checks necessary. According to him, this system has already proven its effectiveness and helps stop criminals.
Speaking at a meeting of EU interior ministers in Luxembourg, Dobrindt stated that his country’s border checks are working.
“The significant number of cases of illegal migration and the arrests of smuggling gangs—all of this shows just how effective these border controls are, and that is precisely why we want to continue carrying them out,” he told reporters.
Currently, ten EU countries are conducting checks at internal borders. Seven of them justify this by citing migration pressure, which contradicts the Schengen principle. The European Commission has called on a number of countries to gradually reopen their borders.
Here are the countries where border checks are currently in place:
- Austria
- Denmark
- France
- Germany
- Italy
- Netherlands
- Slovenia
- Sweden
- Norway (not an EU member, but within the Schengen Area)
Poland became the tenth country to impose restrictions, though Warsaw has not yet been asked to lift them. These measures were initially intended to be temporary. In some countries, they have been in place for years.
Brussels is convinced that borders must remain open. The Commission cites sweeping changes in migration policy. This week, leaders approved plans to speed up deportations. Agreements have also been reached to build migrant detention centers outside the bloc.
EU Commissioner for Home Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner believes the reforms are already in effect.
“We are on the right track. The reforms have been implemented. External borders are better protected. Decisions have been made regarding the regulation of returns,” he said.
According to Brunner, now is the time to gradually lift these border controls, Euronews reports.
As a reminder, Ukraine and Moldova are set to begin negotiations on EU accession.
Cyprus, which currently holds the EU presidency, has initiated preparations for the official launch of negotiations, and this decision is considered an important milestone for Ukraine and Moldova on the path to European integration, as it effectively opens a new phase of political and legal rapprochement with the EU. This was reported by Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko.
The European Commission announced plans to allocate up to 641 million euros for the development and support of Moldova’s economy. This was stated by European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos during her visit to Chisinau.
