Policy Announcement: Germany’s government plans to introduce systematic border controls starting 16 September 2024.

Objective: The controls aim to reduce immigration, especially targeting asylum seekers who have already passed through other EU states.

Risks:

Potential for human rights violations and racial profiling.

Possible conflict with EU law, as warned by Germany’s Council for Migration.

Political Context:

The policy follows a fatal incident involving a Syrian asylum seeker, which intensified debates on migration.

The move is influenced by rising far-right sentiments and electoral pressure.

Impact on Schengen Area:

The Schengen Agreement, which enables passport-free travel across most EU countries, is at risk.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and others have criticized Germany’s plans as a breach of Schengen and EU law.

Far-Right Influence:

Far-right leaders like Viktor Orbán and Geert Wilders are supportive of the policy, seeing it as a victory for their anti-migration agendas.

Far-right parties across Europe are encouraged by Germany’s actions, potentially leading to similar measures in other countries.

Election Dynamics:

The German government’s move is seen as an attempt to regain electoral support ahead of upcoming elections.

There are concerns about the feasibility and effectiveness of the new border checks given existing police capacities.

Migration Context:

Migration is driven by complex factors including conflict, persecution, and climate change.

Stierl argues that the proposed border controls won’t address these root causes.

EU Integrity:

The policy risks undermining the EU’s core principle of free movement and its broader vision of a unified political community.