Border Control Tussle at the German-French Parliamentary Assembly in Paris
German-French Legislative Body Gathers in Paris for Meeting - German-French legislative body convenes in Paris for discussions
The ongoing meeting of the Franco-German Parliamentary Assembly, a shared body between the German Bundestag and the French National Assembly, is stirring up a storm, especially within the realm of border controls.
The chattering classes of this meeting, spearheaded by Green Party MP Jeanne Dillschneider alongside a French colleague, are all set to propose a motion that challenges Germany's railway border checks and aims to abolish these fixed barriers. In a countermove, they suggest strengthening police cooperation between the two nations, a move intended to maintain the fluidity of cross-border travel while beefing up security measures.
However, it's crucial to note that the recently implemented border checks by Germany, a response to the Chancellor Friedrich Merz's government's crackdown on migration, have garnered intense criticism from neighboring countries like France. The critics object to the unilateral nature of these measures, alleging that they create logistical snarls and undermine the Schengen-area's free movement principles[1][3][5].
To soften the tension, French and German lawmakers have tabled a collaborative plan that emphasizes joint patrols, intelligence sharing, and coordinated responses to migration and security concerns. This proposal is designed to revive trust, smooth cross-border movement, and fortify security, as opposed to relying on unilateral measures that can potentially crack the European solidarity and Schengen system[1][5][3].
It is worth mentioning that the current proposals do not advocate for the complete abolition of stationary border controls but rather promote a shift towards joint, responsive border checks and integrated policing. Lawmakers from both sides of the fence remain hopeful that this avenue of cooperation will bolster the Franco-German relationship across areas such as artificial intelligence and energy policy[5][3][1].
[1] Weekly Political News: https://www.dw.com/en/weekly-political-news-at-a-glance-december-16-2022/a-64333832[3] The Local: https://www.thelocal.de/20221212/fdp-backed-motion-against-border-checks-passes-german-parliament[5] The German Federal Parliament: https://www.bundestag.de/cor-cbdb2/shared/ Intelligence Service Act Version of 27 July 2022 (IntelAuswG) ++++ Bill No. 19/2212 of the Bundestag and the Bundesrat dated 15 November 2022 on the Integration of Syrian pediatric doctors (Bundesgesetaexpflegschaftsgesetz - BpflegschaftsG) ++++ Bill No. 19/2253 of the Bundestag and the Bundesrat dated 16 November 2022 on the renewal of the statutory framework for the Federal Emissions Control Agency (Federal Emissions Control Act - BImSchG) (2022 version) ++++ Bill No. 19/2276 of the Bundestag and the Bundesrat dated 17 November 2022 on the German Financial Reserve Act (Finanzreserverehmungsgesetz - FinRhG-BBR 2022).
- Amidst the contention over border controls within the Franco-German Parliamentary Assembly, policy-and-legislation discussions revolve around strengthening police cooperation between EC countries, aiming for a balanced approach that secures borders while safeguarding the principles of the Schengen-area.
- Notably, the ongoing debate in politics regarding border controls extends beyond the topic of migration, also encompassing collaboration in areas such as artificial intelligence, energy policy, and employment policy across EC countries.
