Border Controls Extended Until March for Faeser's Crackdown
The immovable border checks with Poland, the Czech Republic, and Switzerland, instituted in mid-October, will carry on up until March 15 of the coming year. The Federal Ministry of the Interior declared this past Friday that these measures would persist, aiming to further eradicate smuggling crimes and tighten the leash on unauthorized immigration. The Ministry alerted the European Commission to this decision.
Germany's Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) claimed triumphant victory, stating, "Our tactics are working." In the wake of these temporary border controls and closely coordinated efforts with adjacent countries, there's been a 60% reduction in unauthorized entries nationwide – a drop from over 20,000 in October to around 7,300 unauthorized entries in November.
Faeser has repeatedly prolonged these border controls since they debuted on October 16. At present, the internal border controls at the German-Austrian boundary, established in late 2015, are due to continue until May 11, 2024.
Arguably, border controls aren't common within the Schengen area and need to be reported to Brussels. If the interval is brief, such as a few days, the notification can be made within a shorter notice period. However, this privilege expires after two months. As of December 15, Germany's use of this provision will expire.
FDP's interior deputy, Ann-Veruschka Jurisch, expressed disapproval regarding the prolongation of border controls with Switzerland, stating her concern about the resulting traffic congestions and extended delays at the border, which reportedly pose added fetters for commuters. Nonetheless, the checks performed by German officers on the Swiss side have exhibited a higher success rate than those carried out at the actual border, with most refusals issued at the border checkpoints.
Slovenia, too, has extended its border controls with Hungary and Croatia, which were first introduced in December, for an additional six months due to ongoing terrorism concerns.
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While Germany's decision to extend border controls aims to combat human smuggling and irregular immigration, it also brings about certain consequences. The checks on the Swiss border, led by German officers, have proven to be significantly more successful in terms of refusing entry, indicating that these checks could be a more effective deterrent. Moreover, the compulsory checks have reportedly resulted in a decrease in unauthorized entries by more than 60%.
Although the practical implementation of border controls can lead to temporary disruptions, the German government is committed to carrying out these measures in a manner that will minimize these impacts on travelers and commuters. In addition to this, coordinating these efforts with neighboring countries will help maintain unity in ensuring security within the Schengen area.
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