Given the enormous fear in the border regions as a result of the controls at all German external borders starting on Monday, Interior Minister Nancy Faeser has promised a flexible approach. “We also want to ensure that people in the border regions, commuters, trade and the economy are affected as little as possible by the controls,” Faeser explained in Berlin on Sunday. There must also be close coordination with neighboring countries.
“We want to further reduce irregular migration, stop smugglers, stop criminals and identify and stop Islamists at an early stage,” Faeser said, again justifying the checks, which now also affect the borders with the Benelux countries, Denmark and France. This would also allow for “effective rejections” of people who wanted to enter the country illegally.
“Controls are carried out flexibly”
“The Federal Police will carry out internal border controls flexibly and depending on current security requirements,” the German Interior Ministry said in a statement. “There are therefore no comprehensive, but rather targeted checks to combat cross-border crime and further restrict irregular migration,” the ministry further emphasized.
Commuters must carry proof of identity
The Berlin Interior Ministry has asked all affected travellers and cross-border commuters to carry their identity card or passport with them – as is already mandatory when crossing the border. Third-country nationals should ensure that they meet the valid entry requirements, for example, and have a visa where required.
Stationary border controls have already been implemented at the land borders with Poland, the Czech Republic, Austria and Switzerland. According to the German Ministry of the Interior, around 52,000 unauthorized entries have been detected and around 30,000 refusals have been made since the expansion in mid-October 2023 – for example, if no or invalid travel documents were presented. Faeser also points to a significant drop in the number of asylum seekers, although this could also be due to other measures and developments.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
