Germany Rejects EU Request to Suspend Border Checks

On Thursday, German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt declined a request from the European Commission to end internal border checks, highlighting the ongoing need to tackle illegal immigration despite the Commission’s recommendations.

Germany maintains internal border checks as part of a strategy to address uncontrolled illegal immigration, potential terrorist threats, and various national security concerns. The current regulations are set to remain in place until 2024.

During a conference with EU interior ministers in Luxembourg, Dobrindt reaffirmed the importance and effectiveness of these checks in managing illegal immigration. “The significant backlash, the illegal immigration, and the seizures of smuggling operations show how crucial our efforts at the border are, and that’s why we intend to keep them,” he stated.

Dobrindt added that Germany remains open to discussions about refining border controls, but expressed a need for more robust measures. He also emphasized the necessity of enhancing the security of the EU’s external borders, in addition to those within Germany.

The European Commission recently suggested that internal checks carried out by several EU nations, including Germany, should be phased out following the approval of a new immigration policy that proposes deportation centers outside of EU territory. Notably, Poland, which also enforces its own border controls, hasn’t been included in the Commission’s request.

According to reports from Poland’s state news agency, Deputy Interior Minister Maciej Duszczyk indicated that discussions about easing border checks are welcome but complicated. He remarked that it’s much simpler to implement border checks than to eliminate them.

Duszczyk noted that all member states recognize the importance of a functional Schengen Area and that the absence of border controls is one of the core values appreciated by EU citizens. He acknowledged Poland’s existing border checks with Germany and Lithuania, asserting that their rationale aligns with the Schengen Agreement and stems from migration threats posed by Belarus and Russia.

Meanwhile, Luxembourg has previously raised concerns about Germany’s border measures, with its Interior Minister expressing support for the EU’s push to lift such controls but stressing the need for timely action.