Germany’s shock decision to tighten controls across all its land borders to stop “irregular migration” and the “acute dangers posed by Islamist terror” has thrown Europe’s much coveted freedom of movement into doubt and sent shivers through neighbouring countries.
As the European Union’s biggest and most influential economy, the repercussions of Germany’s about-turn on illegal migration on the rest of the bloc is massive. It’s already been heavily criticised in Brussels where diplomats have condemned the move, describing it as “transparent” and “obviously aimed at a domestic audience”.
Berlin already operates controls at its border with Austria, and since last year, has done so with Poland, the Czech Republic and Switzerland. But now Germany’s Interior Minister, Nancy Faeser, has extended passport checks starting next Monday to migrants coming from neighbouring France, Luxembourg, Belgium, Denmark and the Netherlands. Austria’s interior minister, Gerhard Karner, has criticised the tightening of controls, arguing that returning illegal migrants or “push-backs” would not be accepted.
