Germany's Border Control Expansion Puts European Unity to the Test

The German government is intensifying efforts to curb irregular migration and crime following recent extremist attacks. Plans are in place to extend temporary border controls to all nine of its frontiers next week. Last month, a Syrian asylum-seeker's knife attack in Solingen resulted in three deaths, with the perpetrator claiming inspiration from the Islamic State group.

Impact on European Unity

The border closures, set to last six months, are testing European unity. Germany shares borders with more countries than any other EU member, and most of its neighbours are also part of the EU. The Polish prime minister has called these closures "unacceptable," while Austria has stated it will not accept migrants rejected by Germany.

Germany's Interior Ministry announced on Monday that it would extend checks at borders with Poland, the Czech Republic, Austria, and Switzerland. Controls will also be implemented at borders with France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Denmark. Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said the goal is to limit irregular migration and protect against "the acute dangers posed by Islamist terrorism and serious crime."

Economic Concerns

As Europe's largest economy, Germany's decision has raised economic concerns among its neighbours. The Dutch Association for Transport and Logistics fears significant economic damage due to undermining the Schengen principle of free trade. Germany's DSLV logistics and freight association has urged a selective approach to avoid disruptions in goods transport.

Dirk Jandura, president of the Federation of German Wholesale, Foreign Trade and Services, said restrictions on free movement "always mean delays and thus cost increases for the economy." However, he acknowledged that if migration policy findings necessitate restrictive measures, they should be implemented proportionately.

Political Repercussions

The ruling conservative government in Austria faces a tight race against a far-right party in an upcoming election. Austria's Interior Minister Gerhard Karner stated that Germany has the right to send people back if another EU country is responsible for their asylum application. However, this requires formal procedures and consent from the concerned member state.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk labelled Germany's plan "unacceptable" and called for urgent consultations among affected countries. Poland has been dealing with a migration crisis on its border with Belarus since 2021. Warsaw accuses Belarus and Russia of luring migrants from the Middle East and Africa to destabilise the West.

Growing Backlash Against Migration

Germany welcomed over 1 million refugees fleeing conflicts in Syria and elsewhere from 2015-16. However, large-scale migration continues nearly a decade later, fuelling support for far-right parties. Some Germans feel social services are overwhelmed, and extremist attacks by asylum-seekers have heightened security fears.

This backlash has led to growing support for stricter immigration policies. Chancellor Olaf Scholz's coalition government is cracking down on irregular immigration after far-right successes in recent state elections in eastern Germany. Another election is scheduled for September 22 in Brandenburg.

Current Travel Situation in Europe

The EU's Schengen area allows visa-free travel across most EU countries for work and leisure. Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland also belong to Schengen despite not being EU members. The EU permits temporary reintroduction of border controls during serious threats or major events like the Olympic Games or European soccer championships.

Agnieszka Lada-Konefal from the German Institute of Polish Affairs noted that random checks at the German-Polish border create traffic jams and discourage cross-border activities like shopping. Poles argue that Germany initially welcomed refugees but is now pushing them back to Poland.

"Due to the negative perception of the influx of migrants in Poland, any report of migrants being returned by Germany also negatively affects Polish-German relations and Germany's image in Poland," Lada-Konefal told AP.

In response to Germany's actions, Slovenia, Austria, Italy, and the Netherlands have also extended temporary border controls in some areas or along their entire frontiers.