German authorities said on Wednesday they were likely to extend checks at their eastern border, launched last autumn to curb the flow of migrants, and extend them to all borders when they host the Euro 2024 football tournament.
German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser told reporters in Prague:
“The illegal migration figures have indeed decreased, but we still register many asylum requests. This is why I think we will have to extend the checks once again.”
Germany introduced random checks at the border with Poland and the Czech Republic at the end of September. Permanent checks had been in place at the border with Austria since the 2015 migrant crisis. The move prompted Germany’s eastern neighbours to introduce identity checks at the border with Slovakia to stop migrants arriving mainly from Serbia via Hungary.
All these countries, except Serbia, are part of Europe’s Schengen zone with open borders, where border controls are only carried out in exceptional cases. Brussels must be notified before controls are put in place. Faeser added:
“After six months, you always have to evaluate them and find out if they are still necessary. The European Commission then has to approve them again.”
For the current checks, the six-month period expires at the end of March. Faeser emphasised that Germany is likely to tighten border controls when it hosts the Euro 2024 football tournament in June and July. She noted:
“As a rule, host countries tend to protect themselves, so we will probably introduce checks on borders with all neighbours.”
Faeser also added that Germany will continue to fight the “terrible crime of smuggling” that causes an influx of migrants, mostly from Africa and Asia. She said:
“Almost one in four refugees comes via smuggler organisations or smugglers. We have to combat smuggling, it’s absolutely crucial. That’s why we need the border checks.”
