Germany’s New Border Checks May Trigger EU-Wide Repercussions

Germany’s plan to implement stricter border checks with more neighboring countries could have far-reaching consequences for governments and asylum seekers across the European Union, experts warn.

Though these measures fall within the Schengen rules allowing free movement, the decision comes amid rising political pressure after a terrorist attack and significant gains for the far-right in recent state elections.

Interior Minister Nancy Faeser, of the Social Democratic Party (SPD), announced the new border controls in response to growing concerns over national security and migration. The measures, set to begin next Monday, will target travelers arriving from Schengen Area countries including Belgium, France, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg. These new controls follow similar measures already in place at Germany’s borders with Poland, the Czech Republic, and Switzerland.

Faeser said the move was necessary to combat Islamist terrorism and cross-border crime, and to better manage asylum applications, particularly in the wake of a knife attack in Solingen in August that left three dead. The attack, linked to a failed Syrian asylum seeker associated with the Islamic State group, has intensified calls for stricter immigration policies.

The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party capitalized on these anxieties, making significant gains in recent state elections, adding pressure on Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s government to act. In response, Germany’s coalition government aims to curb irregular migration through stricter border enforcement.

However, neighboring countries, including Poland and Austria, have voiced their objections. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk called the move “unacceptable” and urged for consultations with affected countries. Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner declared his country would not accept asylum seekers turned away by Germany.

Experts caution that Germany’s border control expansion could prompt a “chain reaction” across the EU, with countries such as France, the Netherlands, and Poland potentially introducing similar restrictions. This would challenge the EU’s shared migration policy and strain the Schengen Area’s principle of open borders.

Despite the new measures, some observers doubt Germany’s capacity to fully enforce the controls, and worry about the impact on commuters and cross-border trade. With 240,000 people commuting into Germany from neighboring countries for work, increased border checks could slow transit and affect local economies.

With input from BBC, Reuters, Deutsche Welle.