Union interior politicians: border controls make sense in the long term
The additional border controls that have been in place since mid-October make sense in the view of CDU/CSU interior politicians and should be continued for a long time to come. "It is clear that they are more efficient and successful than we had hoped for," said Alexander Throm, spokesperson for home affairs in the CDU/CSU parliamentary group, to the German Press Agency.
The CDU politician had already called on Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) months ago to order stationary controls at additional border sections. Throm said that if the checks had started earlier directly at the border, this could have prevented damage to Germany.
On 16 October, Faeser instructed the federal police to carry out stationary checks at the border with Poland, the Czech Republic and Switzerland, as has been the case at the land border with Austria since 2015. The minister had initially registered fixed border controls at these sections with the EU Commission for ten days and then extended them twice by 20 days each time. She justified this step with the fight against irregular immigration and people smuggling.
Checks bring "more light into the darkness"
According to preliminary figures, the Federal Police apprehended more than 11,000 unauthorized entries and arrested 266 smugglers in the first month since the start of controls at the German borders. According to its own figures, it was also able to identify 3528 wanted persons and execute 670 outstanding arrest warrants.
Throm said that the checks "shed more light on the situation" and helped to limit or slow down irregular migration to Germany. When asked whether the differences of opinion on asylum policy that sometimes existed during the time of Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) no longer exist today, he replied: "I see a great deal of unity among us in the parliamentary group."
This also has to do with the fact that parliamentary group leader Friedrich Merz (CDU) initiated a broad discussion in the spring, at the end of which a migration policy position paper entitled "Humanity and Order" was adopted. "Our parliamentary group works well together on this basis," emphasized Throm.
- In response to the increased border controls instituted in October, Alexander Throm, a CDU politician and spokesperson for home affairs, praised their efficiency and effectiveness, suggesting they should continue long-term.
- Amidst the ongoing border control measures, Nancy Faeser, the Federal Interior Minister, had previously been urged by Throm to impose stationary checks at additional borders, believing this could have prevented potential harm to Germany.
- currently, following Faeser's instructions to carry out stationary checks at Poland, Czech Republic, Switzerland, and Austria borders in October, the CDU politician Alexander Throm, finds these checks beneficial in shedding light on the situation and limiting the flow of irregular migration into Germany.
Source: www.dpa.com
