Interior Minister Faeser - European Football Championships allow for border control implementation.
The German Federal Police have the power to conduct temporary checks at all German borders during the European Football Championship. These inspections will not just take place at the usual locations, but also in Denmark, France, and the Benelux countries, which had never had these checks before. Moreover, travelers from the Schengen zone will undergo similar inspections in air travel and at ports. The controls are described as "variable and flexible."
German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) had previously commanded these checks in response to the heightened security requirements during the European Football Championship, which commences with Germany-Scotland match on June 14 in Munich. "Our security concerns range from the threat of Islamist terrorism to hooligans to cyber attacks," Faeser said in a statement. "The German Federal Police will safeguard our borders, airports, and railways." We eagerly anticipate the European Football Championship in our own land, but security takes precedence. With these controls, potential culprits should be identified and intercepted as soon as possible. One aim is to burden travelers and commuters as little as possible.
Existing border controls are extended
The stationary controls along the borders with Poland, the Czech Republic, and Switzerland have recently been extended for an additional half-year until mid-December. They first occurred in October 2020 when Faeser ordered them, and have been extended multiple times since then. The goal is to prevent smuggling crimes and limit illicit migration. The border controls at the German-Austrian border have been ongoing since autumn 2015.
The European Championship-related temporary checks will be reported on the EU level until July 19, a few days after the final at the Berlin Olympic Stadium on July 14. Consequently, all travelers have been asked to bring valid travel documents.
Faeser recently stated that the security situation is "tense," even though there are no specific indications of planned attacks related to the tournament. Approximately 580 foreign police officers will be enlisted for the event, with a primary focus on patrolling in the host cities and rail traffic. This cooperation between German officials and international security authorities is part of the comprehensive plan. The International Police Cooperation Center (IPCC) in Neuss (North Rhine-Westphalia) is the focal point for this national and international coordination.
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The German Federal Police, under the direction of Interior Minister Nancy Faeser, will also conduct border control checks at the borders with Denmark, France, and the Benelux countries during the European Football Championship, as part of the flexible and variable controls implemented for the tournament. Additionally, foreign police officers will be enlisted to support these efforts, particularly in securing host cities and rail traffic, as part of the comprehensive plan coordinated by the International Police Cooperation Center in Neuss.
