Germany has announced that it’s implementing new border checks for the next six months to curb the influx of illegal migrants. Which other countries within the Schengen Area are doing the same and why?
Berlin caused a stir in Europe when it announced that it was cranking up controls on its open borders with its neighbours to deal with what it calls irregular migration.
Such measures mean that the movement of people and goods to the country is now subjected to checks, which is normally not the case between countries in the Schengen Area — a group of states that have officially abolished border controls at their mutual borders.
The area includes all EU states except Ireland and Cyprus — plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. Due to their placement within the Italian peninsula, San Marino and the Vatican City are de facto members, even though not officially.
Despite its announcement of stricter controls on Monday, Germany isn’t the only country within the Schengen Area to have tightened border security recently.
There are at least seven other countries within Schengen that have reintroduced temporary border controls.
Austria
Vienna has reintroduced checks on the border with the Czech Republic until 15 October and with Slovenia and Hungary until 11 November.
Similarly to Germany, the decision was taken to curb irregular migration and alleviate pressure on the asylum system, as well as to halt terrorism threats from the Middle East in the wake of the Israel-Hamas war.
Reasons also include spying activities amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, as well as cyber frauds.
Denmark
Denmark has stepped up border security on all internal borders. Like in Norway, restrictions will be in place from 12 May to 11 November, “with a focus on the Danish-German land border and Danish ports with ferry connection to Germany”.
Copenhagen said it’s concerned about the “terrorist threat relating to the conflict between Israel and militant groups in Gaza and the Quran desecrations in 2023, which created a renewed focus on Denmark as a prioritised target among militant Islamist groups”.
France
Checks along all internal borders have been in place since 1 May and are expected to stay till 31 October.
Paris’ decision was motivated by “constant migratory pressure at the Schengen external borders” and a “significant increase in irregular crossings, particularly from Türkiye and North Africa” as well as “pressure on the reception system” and “intensified terrorist threat”.
The measure was also enforced due to the Olympic and Paralympic Games organised in the summer, which brought millions of people to France.
Italy
Due to Italy’s G7 presidency and the risk of terrorist activity “connected to the turmoil in the Middle East and the possible risk of terrorist infiltration in irregular migration flows”, Rome has reinforced border security until 18 December, according to the European Commission.
It’s unclear however which borders are involved. Euronews has contacted the Interior Ministry for clarifications.
ADVERTISEMENTNorway
Entry has been restricted in all ports with connections to the Schengen Area since 12 May and checks will remain in place at least until 11 November 2024.
Oslo has given its main reason for the measures as the “increased threat to critical infrastructure, Russian intelligence operations threatening Norwegian exports of gas or military support to Ukraine”.
Slovenia
Checks are in place at the border with Croatia and Hungary. They were introduced at the end of June due to major sports events like UEFA Euro 2024 in Germany and the Olympic Games in France, and are expected to stay in place till 21 December.
Reasons also include “increased instability in the Middle East, Russia’s aggression in Ukraine, organised crime, and general terrorist threats”, according to Slovenian authorities.
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Sweden rounds off the Scandinavian countries that have introduced checks from 12 May to 11 November. The measure “may extend to all internal borders”, the European Commission has said.
Swedish authorities were mainly motivated by the attack on Israel by Hamas the Israeli offensive in Gaza, “which have increased tensions in Sweden and in other Member States, increased risk of serious violence and attacks motivated by Anti-Semitism, serious threat to public policy and internal security”.