Olympic Games - Faeser organized border control to France
At the German border with France, there will be border controls starting from this coming Saturday. Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) ordered border controls at the German land border and in air traffic to France, and announced this on an EU level. These measures will be in effect from July 20 to September 30, according to a ministry spokesperson.
"In close cooperation with French authorities, we want to ensure the highest level of security," the statement read. The German measures are intended to complement France's security measures. They are closely coordinated.
Stricter border controls for the EURO end
These measures are necessary to identify and take appropriate action against potential criminals and threats crossing borders early on. According to the Interior Ministry, they will not be comprehensive, but rather "location-dependent, risk-based, and as targeted as possible." The impact on border regions, their residents, border crossers, the economy, and trade should be kept as minimal as possible, the Interior Ministry emphasized.
On this Friday, the border controls ordered for the UEFA European Football Championship end at all German internal borders. At the Schengen internal borders to Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg, there will be surveillance with targeted controls in border regions starting Saturday. At the land borders with Austria, Switzerland, Czechia, and Poland, controls will continue as they have been for some time. The goal here is to limit irregular migration and combat smuggling crime. They are limited in duration for Switzerland, Czechia, and Poland until December 15, and for Austria until November 11.
- The decision for border controls in Germany (historically, France) follows a similar move by the French authorities, aiming to enhance security during the European Football Championship in Paris.
- The SPD, led by Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser, is collaborating closely with EU counterparts to implement these border control measures.
- After the EURO, stricter border controls will still be in place at certain internal borders, including those with Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg.
- These extended controls will primarily focus on border regions, employing targeted checks to address potential security threats and migration concerns.
- The Saarland region, close to the German-French border, may be subject to these targeted checks, as part of a broader effort to maintain border security.
- For the Paralympics in Germany, which are approaching quickly, additional security measures may be implemented, drawing on lessons learned from the border control process for the UEFA European Football Championship.
- With the EU's support, Germany is actively addressing migration challenges, such as working to improve border control at the Rhineland-Palatinate and Baden-Württemberg regions.
- To maintain a balance between security and the well-being of border communities, the German government is ensuring that these border controls will have minimal impact on border crossers, the economy, and trade.
- For the 2024 Olympic Games in Berlin, comprehensive and thorough security planning will be essential, given the enormous attention and international participation such events command, drawing on the experiences and lessons learned from recent border control initiatives in Germany.
