Germany is to carry out checks at the border with Switzerland to reduce the number of illegal migrants, Euractiv reports.
Interior Minister Nancy Faeser went even further, promising to introduce stationary controls at borders with Poland and the Czech Republic on Monday.
The number of irregular border crossings with Poland and the Czech Republic in early October increased by about a third compared to the previous year.
The Interior Ministry has now officially registered the checks with the European Commission, which means that inspections between Schengen members are excluded.
The federal police can now flexibly deploy the full bundle of stationary and mobile border policing measures.
The checks will not come into force all at once, but they can now be introduced legally in accordance with the Commission’s registration. However, the decision to introduce fixed and random checks at the border with Schengen Switzerland had previously been virtually undiscussed.
Local politicians have repeatedly noted an increase in border crossings with Switzerland from 2022.
All three German coalition parties, the Social Democratic SPD, the liberal FDP and the Greens, as well as Faeser herself, were punished by voters because of the failed migration policy, according to Infratest Dimap exit polls.
The Greens, supporters of migration, have since indicated their willingness to change course and support the nation’s wishes. Green co-leader Omid Nouripour stated that the party was willing to compromise, but only if it would help municipalities.
Most people worry [about migration] because it pushes municipalities beyond their capacity.
