Euro Tournament in 2024 - Fäeser: Border controls can be implemented because of the European Football Championships.
Due to the upcoming European Football Championship, the German Federal Police are allowed to carry out checks at all German borders. These checks will also occur at borders with Denmark, France, and the Benelux countries, areas they haven't previously monitored, according to the Federal Ministry of the Interior. Additionally, travelers from the Schengen area will be monitored in air traffic and at ports.
The checks will be performed "in accordance with the situation and flexibly," as stated. Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) instructed these measures due to the high-security demands of the UEFA EURO 2024, which will kick off on June 14 with the opening match between Germany and Scotland in Munich.
The main focus is on the risk of Islamic terrorism, hooligans, and cyber attacks. Faeser shared in a statement, "The Federal Police will ensure the safety of German borders, airports, and railways." While we eagerly anticipate the UEFA EURO 2024 on our home turf, security remains our top priority.
The intention behind these checks is to identify and stop potential violent offenders as soon as possible. Travelers and commuters should experience minimal disruption.
The existing stationary checks along the borders with Poland, the Czech Republic, and Switzerland have been extended for an additional six months until mid-December. Faeser first instated these checks in October 2020 and has renewed them multiple times since then. Their objective is to combat organized crime related to smuggling and curb irregular migration. The border controls along the German-Austrian frontier have been in place since autumn 2015.
The temporary controls at all German Schengen internal borders for the European Championship will be recorded on the EU level until July 19, just a few days after the final on July 14 at the Berlin Olympic Stadium. All travelers are, therefore, urged to have their valid travel documents on hand.
Faeser recently mentioned that the security situation is "tense," but there are no specific indications of any planned assaults due to the EURO. In addition to German officials, roughly 580 foreign police officers will be deployed during the tournament, with their primary role being to provide patrols in the host cities and in rail traffic.
This cooperation is an integral part of an extensive collaboration between national and international security authorities, with the International Police Cooperation Center (IPCC) in Neuss (North Rhine-Westphalia) serving as the focal point of this complex undertaking.
