Hangin' with the German-French Parliamentary Assembly in the City of Lights
Parliamentary leaders from France and Germany convene in Paris for joint discussion - German-French lawmakers gather in Paris for collective discussions
Let's dive into the latest happenings where German and French officials are gathering in the romantic city of Paris. On the agenda? A potential shake-up of border control strategies, with Green Party MP Jeanne Dillschneider proposing a joint initiative with her French colleague. Their bold plan? Aiming to abolish those pesky static border controls and beef up police cooperation.
A Quick Refresher
Germany and France are longtime companions in the European Union, sharing borders, politics, and a love for bread and wine.
Now, you might be thinking, "Wait a minute, abolishing border controls? Isn't that a big no-no?" Let's clear the air—the squeaky clean Schengen Area, which happily welcomes both Germany and France, is all about open borders. But remember, real-world situations can get a bit tricky, so sometimes temporary internal border controls need to be reinstated to tackle challenges like surging migrants or heightened security threats.
Current State of Affairs
Recent talks involve finding the sweet spot between upholding the open borders principle and dealing with the bumps along the road. For instance, in 2024, a refreshed Schengen Code was rolled out, providing guidelines on when and how temporary border closures can happen—and these can last up to two years to ensure consistency across member states.
Temporary border controls are still very much an option when the going gets rough. Both Germany and France have taken a firm stance on imposing them in response to migration pressures or security concerns. Don't fret; these measures are supposed to be temporary and must comply with strict procedural regulations under the revised Schengen Code.
On the other hand, there's a persistent push for intensified police cooperation across the EU, with Germany and France at the forefront. Expect more joint patrols, data sharing, and collaboration via databases such as the Schengen Information System to strengthen security without the need for permanent border checks.
The Political Landscape
Civil society and certain political figures have been vocal about championing the free movement principle and advocating for adhering to the Schengen border code. However, governments often prioritize public and political pressure concerning migration or security issues by either maintaining or reinstating temporary border controls.
Wrapping it Up
For now, there's no imminent plan to do away with the static border controls between Germany and France entirely. The revised Schengen Code allows temporary border controls to come into play, while encouraging deeper police cooperation to keep things secure. The ongoing discourse—both in the public sphere and among policymakers—continues to stress the importance of protecting the free movement principle, while temporary border checkpoints remain useful when situations require a helping hand.
[1] Schengen Agreement and Border Controls Explained[2] The Evolution of Temporary Border Controls[3] Deepening Police Cooperation in the EU[4] Public Pressure and the Schengen Area[5] The Schengen Code: A Comprehensive Guide
- The proposed plan by Jeanne Dillschneider and her French counterpart aims to increase police cooperation, rather than completely eliminating the static border controls, as a means to strengthen security within EC countries, following the discussions during the meeting of the German-French Parliamentary Assembly in Paris.
- The ongoing political debate in the realm of policy-and-legislation revolves around the balance between upholding the open borders principle and addressing real-world challenges, such as migration pressures or security threats, as demonstrated through the implementation of temporary border controls and the encouragement of deepened police cooperation in the EU.
