Former European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker has criticized the reintroduction of border controls in Germany and other EU countries. He stressed that the idea that masses of refugees or wanted people could be picked up with arrest warrants at official border points was a mistake. Smugglers would do anything to avoid official police checks.
This mainly affects the larger region around Luxembourg, where intensive exchanges take place across the borders with Germany, France and Belgium. “It bothers me that the reintroduction of border controls seems to be becoming a kind of normality. And I don’t want to get used to it. “I would like this to stop,” Juncker said.
Checks only if there is a ‘serious threat’
Germany reintroduced border controls on September 16 to combat “irregular migration” and protect internal security. Other EU countries are also checking their borders again. The Schengen Agreement, which will celebrate its 40th anniversary in 2025, only allows such checks in exceptional cases in the event of a “serious threat” and initially for six months.
Juncker criticized considerations of permanently introducing border controls in Germany as it would affect attitudes to life in the wider region. “Then that is not good for the lifestyle of people in the greater region,” he said. “In this regard, I would be grateful if this were stopped.” He welcomed the decision of the Luxembourg parliament to intervene with the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen: “I fully support this parliamentary decision.”
Fewer illegal entries into Luxembourg
According to German police, there were 135 illegal entries from Luxembourg and 80 rejections in October, while Luxembourg reports lower numbers. Juncker spoke of an “enormous disruption” that put pressure on the 220,000 daily cross-border commuters: “People are used to being able to move freely both in the border area and in their own territory.”
Criticism of checks by the German police
Juncker, for example, criticized the border controls of the German police, which were carried out ‘armed to the teeth’ on the Moselle Bridge in Schengen: ‘That does not show any particular ingenuity or sensitivity in dealing with people in the border area.’
The Luxembourg parliament recently adopted a resolution against the reintroduction of temporary border controls, also calling on the government to consider legal action against these measures.
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.
