Germany to expand border checks and tighten ahead of Euro 2024

Germany said on Wednesday it might extend checks at its eastern border launched last autumn to curb migration and extend controls to all borders when it hosts the 2024 European football championships.

“It is true that the number of illegal immigrants has decreased, but we still register many asylum applications,” German Interior Minister Nancy Feser told reporters in Prague.

“That’s why I think we have to extend the inspection period again,” she added.

Germany carried out random checks at its borders with Poland and the Czech Republic in late September. It has had fixed checks on its border with Austria since the 2015 migration crisis.

The move led Germany’s eastern neighbor to impose identity controls on its border with Slovakia to stem migrants entering mainly from Serbia via Hungary.

With the exception of Serbia, all these countries are members of Europe’s Schengen open border zone, allowing entry only in exceptional circumstances. The reintroduction of these measures must be notified to Brussels before they can be implemented.

“After six months you always have to evaluate them to see if they are still necessary. Then the European Commission has to approve them again,” Feser said.

For inspections currently underway, a six-month evaluation period expires at the end of March.

Feather said border controls were likely to be tightened when Germany hosts the 2024 European football championships in June and July.

“Generally speaking, host countries tend to protect themselves, so we may have border checks with all our neighbours,” she added.

Feser added that Germany would continue to combat the “terrible crime of smuggling” that has led to an influx of migrants, mostly from Africa and Asia.

“Almost a quarter of refugees come through smuggling organizations or smugglers. It is absolutely vital that we fight smuggling. That is why we need border checks.”

(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from associated news agency – AFP)