Germany has announced a series of temporary internal border controls at its land borders with Poland, the Czech Republic, Switzerland, and Austria to combat smuggling crime and address issues related to irregular migration.
The Federal Police, tasked with enforcing these controls, will employ a combination of stationary and mobile measures. These measures have already been in place at the German-Austrian border and will now be extended to the borders with Poland, the Czech Republic, and Switzerland.
The objective is to intensify the fight against smuggling and to limit irregular migration. Joint patrols and enhanced cooperation with neighboring countries are integral to this approach.
Minister Faeser emphasized the urgency of these measures, citing a recent tragedy on the German-Austrian border where seven individuals lost their lives while being smuggled into Germany.
Also, these controls aim to alleviate the burden on German communities struggling with the consequences of irregular migration.
The Federal Police will have the flexibility to implement a range of border control measures, depending on the situation. Close coordination with neighboring countries and federal states will ensure that these measures function harmoniously across borders.
Joint action plans have been initiated with Poland and the Czech Republic, and plans for closer cooperation with Switzerland are already in progress.
While these border controls may have an impact on cross-border traffic, the government is determined to minimize any disruptions. The goal is to return to a state where internal borders do not require checks, relying on a common European asylum system and robust protection of the EU’s external borders.
According to data provided by the Federal Police, smuggling crime along the German borders with Poland, the Czech Republic, Austria, and Switzerland has been on the rise. In the early part of October 2023, nearly 98,000 unauthorized entries into Germany were recorded, surpassing the 2022 total of around 92,000. An estimated one in four third-country nationals entering Germany illegally are believed to be smuggled.
Since the beginning of this year, over 1,550 smuggling operations and approximately 1,700 smugglers have been registered across Germany. Container smuggling, which poses life-threatening risks, has become disturbingly common. Smugglers are employing increasingly ruthless and brutal tactics, both towards those being smuggled and the police officers attempting to control them.
The notification of these internal border controls will be initially implemented for ten days starting on October 16, 2023, and may be extended for up to two months.
The renewed notification for the Austrian border will extend these controls for an additional six months, starting on November 12, 2023.
These measures are sanctioned under Article 25 ff. of the Schengen Border Code (Regulation EU 2016/399).
