Germany’s Green Politicians Urge for Abolishment of Border Controls

Germany’s Green politicians have expressed their concerns related to Germany’s ongoing internal border controls through a letter addressed to the European Commission.

Referring to the border controls introduced by the Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser, the letter says that Germany, along with seven other European Union countries, is not acting in accordance with the Schengen Border code, Schengen.News reports.

The letter has also been signed by the MEPs Anna Cavazzini and Erik Marquardt, Members of the German Bundestag Filiz Polat and Marcel Emmerich, as well as members of the Brandenburg State Parliament Sahra Damus.

At present, Germany keeps its border controls with Austria, Czechia, Poland and Switzerland, which are set to remain effective by the end of this year.

Berlin also imposed border controls along its border with France due to the Olympic Games in Paris. Besides, the country maintained border controls at all its borders in June this year during the UEFA European Football Championship.

However, Green parliamentarians argue that the introduction of internal border controls for events such as the UEFA or Olympic Games is understandable as a short-term measure. 

But, according to them, there should be an exit from the partly years-long stationary frontier checks at the end of these events.

Arguing that border controls are helping Germany to curb irregular migration, last month, the leader of the parliamentary group of the junior coalition partner Free Democrats (FDP), Christian Dürr, along with some of the country’s interior ministers, urged for further extension of border controls.

Dürr said that border controls very effectively helped to catch people attempting to reach Germany in an irregular way.

However, the Federal Ministry of Interior previously clarified that enhanced border controls imposed during the European Football Championships should not be further prolonged. The Ministry said that such measures are time-limited and should only be used as a last resort.

Source : https://schengen.news/germanys-green-politicians-urge-for-abolishment-of-border-controls/