Germany has decided to prolong its internal border controls with Poland, Czechia, and Switzerland.

Germany has decided to prolong its internal border controls with Poland, Czechia, and Switzerland until March 15, 2024, as part of its strategy to combat smuggling and irregular migration. Federal Minister of Interior Nancy Faeser announced the extension, citing the effectiveness of the measures in preventing unauthorized entries.

Faeser stated, "I decided to extend the temporary controls at our borders with Poland, the Czech Republic and Switzerland for three more months until mid-March 2024. European law provides for this step-by-step approach."

The minister emphasized the success of the controls in curbing people smuggling and irregular migration, pointing out that since mid-October, approximately 340 people smugglers have been apprehended by the German Federal Police at the borders with the three countries. The heightened controls have also contributed to a significant reduction in irregular entries into Germany. Faeser disclosed that the number of irregular entries decreased by over 60% nationwide, dropping from more than 20,000 in October to around 7,300 in November.

Faeser assured that despite the controls, efforts would be made to minimize their impact on trade, travel, and the daily lives of commuters. The internal border controls necessitate checks for everyone entering Germany through Poland, Czechia, and Switzerland. Additionally, Germany has border controls in place with Austria, which will continue until May 11, 2024.

In the context of the extended measures, Faeser highlighted the collaboration with neighboring states, stating, "Thanks to our temporary border controls and the closely coordinated measures that our neighboring states are taking, the number of unauthorized entries nationwide has decreased by more than 60 per cent, from over 20,000 in October to about 7,300 in November."

This year, the German Federal Police have thwarted approximately 119,000 unauthorized entries into Germany, a notable increase from the previous year's figure of around 92,000 prevented entries. Germany's decision to maintain border controls aligns with a broader trend in the Schengen area, with Austria recently extending its border controls with Czechia for an additional two months. Moreover, countries including Czechia, Slovakia, and Slovenia are currently implementing border controls to address similar concerns. By fLEXI tEAM