Germany’s recent decision to extend temporary border controls across all its land borders has sparked a wave of criticism from its neighbours. The move, which is part of Germany’s response to irregular migration, has been labelled “unacceptable” by Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk and has also been criticised by officials in other countries. The decision highlights growing tensions over migration policies and border management in Europe, as countries grapple with how to handle rising numbers of refugees and migrants. Background to Germany’s decision Germany’s interior minister, Nancy Fieser, announced that from next Monday, border controls will be extended to cover all land borders, including those with France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and Denmark. Previously, such controls applied to select borders. According to Fieser, the aim is to provide protection against “serious threats posed by Islamist terrorism and serious crime”. Under the new rules, German police will be tasked with checking whether a refugee has already applied for protection in another European Union (EU) country. If they have done so, the process of deporting them will be swiftly initiated.
However, neighbouring countries have not liked the move. Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk condemned the decision, saying it was taken because of Germany’s internal political conflicts, rather than any genuine border security concern. The criticism reflects wider discontent among European countries, which are concerned about the potential impacts of Germany’s actions on their border policies and migration management.
European neighbours react
Germany’s decision has sparked reactions across the region. Poland, which has been dealing with a surge in illegal crossings on its border with Belarus since 2021, is particularly affected. Tusk has emphasized that Poland’s border policy is focused on countering the “hybrid war” being waged by Belarus and Russia rather than imposing more stringent controls on its borders with other EU countries such as Germany.
Austria has also taken a position on the issue. Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner announced that Austria would not accept any migrants sent back by Germany. “There are no exemptions,” he said, reinforcing a firm stance that Austria will not bear the brunt of Germany’s border policy decisions. Austria, facing its own political pressures with far-right opinion polls ahead of upcoming elections, is unlikely to compromise on its border policies.
Impact on border communities
Communities along the borders are feeling the immediate impact of Germany’s decision. Joris Bengevoord, the mayor of a Dutch town near the German border, described the border checks as a “panic reaction.” He highlighted the delays experienced by residents during the Euro 2024 football championships, when Germany imposed temporary border controls. Such disruptions could become more frequent and affect cross-border trade, travel and daily life for people living in these areas.
Dutch transport groups such as TLN have criticised Germany for undermining the principles of the Schengen Agreement, which allows passport-free travel across much of Europe. They argue that these controls impede the free movement of goods and people, which is the cornerstone of the Schengen area.
Not everyone in the Netherlands is against Germany’s move, however. Some political figures, particularly on the right, see it as a necessary step. Geert Wilders, leader of the anti-immigration Freedom party, expressed his support for Germany’s decision and even suggested that the Netherlands should consider similar measures. Dilan Yesilgoz of the centre-right liberal VVD echoed this sentiment, saying the German plan sends a strong message about controls, even if it is largely symbolic.
Political context in Germany
The decision to increase border controls comes at a politically sensitive time for Germany. Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s three-party coalition government is facing increasing pressure following poor results in state elections in eastern Germany, where immigration has emerged as a key issue. In Thuringia, the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party recently came in first place, highlighting the changing political landscape and growing public concern over migration. Another election is due in Brandenburg in less than two weeks, which further increases the urgency for the government to address these concerns.
The conservative opposition in Germany, led by the CDU/CSU parties, has been strongly critical of the government’s handling of migration. CDU leader Friedrich Merz accused the government of being “hopelessly divided internally” and not taking effective measures to control migration. Opposition parties initially agreed to attend a government-hosted migration summit to discuss next steps, but later backed out of the government’s ‘
