Germany’s Border Controls: A Response to Rising Security Concerns

 

Germany’s Border Controls: The chapter also offers a Response to the emerging security threats.

Indeed, in the past few years, Germany has felt mounting pressure to tighten its border for internal and external conditions. The most recent action taken in September of 2024, to reinforce the measures for border control with the neighbouring countries including Poland and Czech Republic has created a lot of controversy in the European Union (EU). This decision that is a set-back for the Schengen Agreement that allows free movement within most of the European region has been perceived necessary as it seeks to address uprisings pertaining to migration, smuggling, and security threats.

 
Information of the Schengen Agreement and Germany’s Participation

 

The Schengen Area was created in 1995 and encompasses 27 European Countries in which people can freely cross the borders between member nations within the area without the need of a passport or identity check. Germany being amongst the founding members of the EU and the Schengen Zone has always adopted the policy of removing barriers to trade and movement benefiting economically and socially from the policy of free trade and the freedom of movement. Schengen system is the rallying point for united Europe hence promoting cooperation and economic integration among member countries.

 

However, this openness has been resisting from time to time especially with the arrival of the migrants in 2015 and the COVID-19 pandemic. Both events highlighted the problem with the management of the Schengen Area that for now has prompted the introduction of temporary checks to border within numerous European countries, including Germany.

 

Recent Developments: A Humorous Look at The 2024 Border Controls

 

On 26th September 2024, the German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s administration introduced measures to reinstate the border control around east Germany with Poland and Czech Republic. The rationale as to why such a decision was made lies in escalating migrants’ figures, fears of cross-border crime and trafficking. Scholz’s government justified these measures to address threats to security and to also limit the number of irregular migrants primarily who pass through other EU member states before arriving in Germany.

Hence the borders of Germany have always been an area of interest when it comes to European migration because of their geographical position as well as the economy. It also makes this country one of the preferred migration destinations for people from other regions as well as within the EU territory. But in the recent past, authorities in Germany have established that there has been a marked increase in cross-border smuggling rings especially in human beings, illicit drugs and weapons. The restoration of the checks at the border is regarded as a positive effort to increase the security of the internal borders combating the above-mentioned criminal networks.

 

 Migration and Asylum Concerns

 

 The increase of asylum requests and unauthorized crossings mainly through the Balkan route and through the Eastern European countries are a critical factor that led Germany to reintroduce border controls. Most of these movers are from conflict-primed regions of Africa, the Middle East, and Asia arriving at the EU’s largest and richest economy. A slight increase was observed in the number of asylum seekers in Germany in 2023 and 2024 thus imposing more burden to the Overburdened social and housing services.

 

 The decision was criticized by different human rights organizations and European politicians regarding to the border control policies. This they feel goes against the spirit of Schengen agreement and more to the detriment putting the lives of these migrants in danger, by forcing them to embark on risky clandestine trips. Furthermore, through Germany’s decision, the country creates conflicts with its neighbours since these states are concerned about assuming migration pressure shifts that can affect their own border protection.

 

 The reintroduction of controls also comes at a politically delicate period as radical right-wing political parties especially those with anti-immigration stances have made gains in the likes of Europe national polls. , the German government wants to strike a delicate power between the international obligations and domestic needs to implement more restrictive immigration policies.

Effect Within Schengen Zone

 

 The recent decision of Germany to again put into operation border controls in the light of future of the Schengen Zone? Characteristic to Schengen area since it was created, any attempts to weaken principles of free movement in this zone could potentially influence the whole EU.

 

 In the short run, it would be possible to experience some of the following constrains for those people or company’s operating across the border, cross- border commuters and tourists. Sources have it that German authorities will allow spot check, and enhance security arches at critical boarders, thereby resulting into halt on trade. This is however worrying especially with the fact that Germany borders nine countries hence acting as a central player in the European supply and transit chain.

 

 Moreover, there is a worry that other members of the EU might replicate this action, and this will lead to a chain reaction in Schengen Area and measures such as border check will be implemented. Some countries including Austria and Hungary have in the past called for tighter border control especially during certain migrations activities. If these countries also put additional controls in place, the Schengen area may well be up for a major parçissement.

Internal Political Dynamics
 

 Same as with the return to border controls, reinstatement of border checks is also a reaction to internal political demands in Germany. In the last ten years, Germany’s tolerance towards right-wing populist parties, including AfD that actively use anti-immigrant discourse and loyally orchestrate people’s concerns about safety and stability in the country. This has made Germany exposed to crime, terrorism and social unrest and these parties hold the view that open borders are wrong.

 

 Chancellor Scholz’s Social Democratic Party (SPD) has a difficult task in front of it. On the one hand, they need to respond to the threats which have been made by the people and the representatives of the opposition. On the other, it has to defend German interest in humanitarian concerns and the country’s position as a leader in Europe integration. To this effect, the SPD wants to make proposed reforms to border patrols and immigration laws more appealing to voters who rant against immigrant influx without betraying Germany’s word to the EU and the international conventions on refugee protection.