Concerns escalate over potential surge of additional hundred thousand Ukrainian displaced persons in courts.
With Germany preparing to enhance border controls, Green politician Hofreiter advocates for coordination with Poland. "If we fail to consistently assist Ukraine, we anticipate hundreds of thousands of refugees fleeing the Russian conflict in the upcoming years," Hofreiter stated to "Tagesspiegel".
In light of Polish Prime Minister Tusk's criticism of additional border controls at Europe's exterior borders, Hofreiter advocated for a united European approach to migration policy. He stressed that the EU's collapse would ensue if each member state implemented its unique border controls. He predicted that Federal Chancellor Scholz and Tusk would maintain close collaboration in the future.
Scholz Refuses Ukraine's Plea
Meanwhile, Ukraine has persistently urged its Western allies to authorize long-range weapons for attacks on Russian targets. "Bold decisions are required. The terror can be halted by destroying the military structures responsible for it," Yermak, the head of the presidential office, wrote on the Telegram messaging service.
However, Scholz reaffirmed that Ukraine is prohibited from utilizing weapons provided by Germany for attacks on Russian targets deep inside the country. "That remains the case," Scholz stated during a citizen's dialogue in Prenzlau. "I will adhere to this stance, even if other countries take contrasting actions," Scholz added, referencing the U.S. "I won't do it because I view it as problematic."
European Migration Policy Solution Required
Meanwhile, Tusk criticized the intensification of controls at Europe's internal borders. "The only way to halt unlawful migration is to properly manage the EU's external borders, not its internal ones," Tusk explained in a late-night call with Scholz on Friday following their telephone conversation.
The Polish stance on this matter has remained unchanged, Tusk added. The increased border controls by the German government at all of Germany's external borders, set to take effect on Monday, have been in place at the German-Polish border crossings for months.
Scholz Justifies Border Controls Expansion
Scholz has justified the planned border controls expansion. "Unlawful migration is not what we want," Scholz said during the question-and-answer session in Prenzlau. If, as in the past year, 300,000 people entered Germany of whom only a portion had a right to asylum, "that's not good." Therefore, it's important to scrutinize who is eligible to enter. "Unfortunately, we cannot entirely trust all of our neighbors to perform their obligations," Scholz emphasized, stating that the border controls would be carried out in accordance with European law.
Interior Minister Faeser has ordered border controls at all German land borders starting Monday to better manage the number of unauthorized entries. These additional controls are initially planned to last for six months and will apply to France, Denmark, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg. Border controls are already in place at the borders with Austria, Poland, the Czech Republic, and Switzerland. The border with France has also been controlled recently due to the Olympic Games.
Federal Police Questions Control Feasibility
Such border controls are generally not permitted within the Schengen area and must be reported to the EU Commission in each instance. The German approach has drawn criticism from neighboring countries. The government justifies the controls based on security threats from unlawful migration and human trafficking at the EU's external borders, which have led to an increase in unauthorized border crossings in Germany, compounding an already strained refugee accommodation situation.
The Federal Police has again expressed concerns about the feasibility of the additional controls due to a lack of personnel. "The Federal Police is still gathering forces as of Monday morning," said Rosskopf, chairman of the Federal Police Union. "This isn't fully thought through," he criticized the government's decisions.
In response to Tusk's criticisms, Hofreiter advocated for a harmonized EU migration policy, emphasizing that the Union's unity would disintegrate if each member implemented individual border measures. The European Union, being a key player in the ongoing Ukrainian refugee crisis, should coordinate its border control strategies to effectively manage the anticipated influx of refugees.
