Germany's Interior Ministry has announced the introduction of nationwide passport checks at all land borders, aiming to tackle irregular migration and enhance
domestic security. The decision, which includes checks at the Belgian border, marks a significant expansion of current controls.
On Monday, Interior Minister Nancy Faeser confirmed that passport checks will be enforced across all of Germany's borders. The measure is intended to reduce the number of people entering the country without valid visas.
Border controls were already in place at Germany's frontiers with Austria, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, and Poland. Temporary checks were also introduced along the French border during the Olympics and Paralympics. Beginning 16 September, passport checks will also be implemented at the borders with Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg. This new measure seeks to combat irregular migration and counter potential extremist threats.
Rising Debates on Migration
Germany and its neighboring countries are part of the Schengen Zone, which typically allows free movement without border controls. However, Germany has extended temporary checks repeatedly in response to ongoing challenges.
The decision comes amid heated debates over Germany’s immigration and asylum policies. These discussions intensified recently after a deadly knife attack in Solingen, in which three people were killed. The suspected attacker, a Syrian national, had evaded deportation from Germany to Bulgaria, where he first entered the European Union.
Germany’s centre-left government is currently in talks with opposition parties to address migration concerns. The far-right, anti-immigration party Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) recently gained ground in state elections, winning in Thuringia and securing second place in Saxony, adding pressure to the government's migration policy discussions. Photo by Frans Berkelaar, Wikimedia commons.