Chancellor Merz: A Tough Stance on EU Border Controls and Rolling Back Directives
No Singular Point of Entry Found at Border
Get your popcorn ready, folks! New Chancellor Friedrich Merz isn't pulling any punches when it comes to EU border controls. In his inaugural visit to Brussels, Merz was straight-up about Germany's plans—they're beefing up border patrols and turning away asylum seekers who try to sneak in. But he made it clear: German solo action isn't the game plan here. "This isn't a German solo operation," he said. "We're playing by European law."
As the situation with migrants trying to enter the EU heats up, Merz is putting his foot down. He compared the current state of play to border controls during the football Euros last year (good to see he's keeping sports metaphors, at least). And contrary to rumors floating around, Merz hasn't called for a state of emergency—he's just getting serious about safeguarding Germany's borders.
If you're wondering which directives might be in danger if Merz gets his way, well...the specifics are a tad vague. Merz did remark he wants to see a rollback of unnecessary EU legislation, but he singled out the EU's Supply Chain Directive as something that needs to go. He even said, "We're repealing the national law in Germany, and I expect the European Union to follow suit and abolish this directive." Interesting times ahead!
On the topic of the Interior Ministry's proposals, let's give a shoutout to the federal police who'll be dealing with the extra workload from the border controls. They apparently fear an overload, but hey, that's what coffee's for, right? Needless to say, critics are raising eyebrows about how legal some of these changes might be, cautiously warning that they could threaten the border-free Schengen area. However, other EU countries appear to be on board with Germany's plans, like Austria, which appreciates Germany's efforts to fight the smuggling mafia and illegal migration while insisting on compliance with EU law.
In the behind-the-scenes political sphere, Merz had a little powwow with the EU Council President and Commission President. They discussed abolishing the aforementioned Supply Chain Directive and making strides towards a more competitive EU by completing the Capital Markets Union and securing more free trade agreements. So, it seems that, despite a slightly rocky start, these EU brainiacs are ready to work together to make the EU a lean, mean, competitive machine. Stay tuned!
[1] BBC News: Merkel's successor Friedrich Merz urges 'correction' of EU course
[2] Deutsche Welle: Germany's Merz calls for coordinated border control
[3] Reuters: Merkel's successor Merz says Germany to rebuff asylum seekers
The Commission, in collaboration with Merz, has also been involved in the preparation of the draft directive regarding EU policies. Brussels, being the capital of the European Union, is where these discussions likely took place. Merz, in his stance on EU border controls, has advocated for requirements that may lead to a rollback of certain policy-and-legislation, particularly the controversial Supply Chain Directive, as he aims to repeal the national law in Germany and expects the EU to follow suit. These political maneuvers and debates are part of the general news cycle, shedding light on the shifting dynamics within European politics.
