Poland voices concerns over German border protection strategies.
Germany's administration is considering reinstating border checks at all of its nine land borders with EU counterparts temporarily. However, not all surrounding nations are in agreement with this plan. Poland, for instance, strongly dissents and seeks cooperation with other affected parties to devise collective actions.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk of Poland voiced his disapproval, describing the German government's proposed border control intensification as unsuitable. The Schengen Agreement essentially faces suspension, according to Tusk.
Tusk suggested that what Poland needs instead is not an enhancement of limits at their frontier but rather a more substantial participation of nations like Germany in guarding and safeguarding the external borders of the EU. The prime minister pointed to the context at Poland's border with Russia's ally, Belarus.
Tusk further announced plans to engage in urgent consultations with other affected nations in the coming hours, in response to the anticipated government decisions in Germany.
End of talks
Tusk's remarks also countered the appeals of the CDU, which shares the same European People's Party (EVP) affiliation. CDU leader Friedrich Merz announced on Monday that talks with Tusk and other EVP heads of government were underway to advocate for stricter border security, including the exclusion of refugees.
However, after several suspected Islamist attacks in Germany beginning Tuesday afternoon, the German federal government had been in discussions to tighten migration policies. The CDU and CSU, however, terminated negotiations with the German government over a unified approach to asylum and migration policies due to insufficient border rejection measures proposed by the administration, according to Union's chief negotiator Thorsten Frei.
On the other hand, Austria, whose chancellor also belongs to the EVP, rejected the CDU's demands. "Austria will not accept any individuals rejected from Germany," stated Interior Minister Gerhard Karner (OVP) to the "Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung". "There's no room for negotiation." He ordered the head of Austria's Federal Police against performing any takeovers.
Faeser orders checks at all borders
Germany's Interior Minister Nancy Faeser issued orders for temporary checks at all of Germany's land borders on Monday to better manage unauthorized entries. The additional controls, scheduled to commence on September 16, will initially last for six months. Moreover, Faeser disclosed that the federal government had devised a blueprint for border refugee rejection that exceeded current parameters. Details remained undisclosed at the time.
Since October 2023, stationary checks have already been in effect at the borders with Poland, Czech Republic, and Switzerland. These have been extended and are now slated to continue until December 15. Controls at the German-Austrian land border, instituted due to irregular migration, have been enforced since September 2015. The newly mandated checks directly at the border affect the land borders with France, Denmark, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg.
The CDU, with its leader Friedrich Merz, had been advocating for stricter border security, including potentially excluding refugees, in discussions with Tusk and other European People's Party heads of government. However, the Swiss, unlike Austria, rejected the CDU's demands, with Interior Minister Gerhard Karner stating, "Austria will not accept any individuals rejected from Germany."
Despite the temporary border checks initiated by Germany's Interior Minister Nancy Faeser, the Switzerland-Germany border remains unaffected, as stationary checks have been ongoing since October 2023. The Swiss government has maintained its stance on border control, unlike some other EU nations that have agreed to temporary border checks.
