Germany’s decision to tighten border controls with nine neighbouring countries, citing “security risks related to irregular migration”, has sparked criticism from European leaders and human rights advocates. The new measures, effective from 16 September, affect borders with Austria, Poland, Czechia, Switzerland, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark and Luxembourg.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk condemned Germany’s move on 10 September, calling it a “de facto suspension of the Schengen Agreement”. He added, “Such actions are unacceptable for Poland,” arguing that the decision reflects the failure of Germany’s migration policies. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis also criticised the measures, on 12 September stating, “Germany cannot unilaterally lift Schengen and shift the burden to countries at Europe’s external borders.”
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, known for his anti-migration stance, supported Germany’s actions, praising Chancellor Olaf Scholz with a message on social media: “Welcome to the club #StopMigration.” Meanwhile, Austria’s Interior Minister Gerhard Karner declared his country would refuse to accept any migrants returned by Germany, emphasising, “There is no room for negotiation.”
The measures come amid rising far-right influence in Germany, marked by the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party’s recent electoral successes. On 22 September, AfD is expected to make further gains in Brandenburg elections. Zeynep Yanaşmayan, Head of the Migration Department at the German Centre for Integration and Migration Research (DeZIM), criticised the controls, stating, “We see how the rhetoric of the far right has seized German politics, creating a climate of fear.”
Yanaşmayan argued that border closures are not the solution to extremist violence, cautioning that these measures could have “destructive consequences” for both Germany and the EU. She added, “This is not a matter of ‘they said it, we did it.’ If AfD gains ground, it will push for more, nudging the public towards extreme right policies.”
Eugenia Kopsidi, a lecturer at the European Law and Governance School (ELGS), warned that Germany’s move could lead to a “domino effect”, prompting other EU governments to adopt stricter border measures. “Germany’s decision will likely force other governments to tighten controls to avoid carrying the burden of migrants trying to reach Germany,” she explained.
Wiebke Judith from Pro Asyl, a leading refugee advocacy group, criticised the German government for playing into the hands of “far-right populists” and suggested that the measures are a signal to refugees that they are “not welcome”. She added, “Only those who want to see the EU further divided, like Hungary’s Viktor Orban, applaud these measures.”
The German Embassy in Ankara assured that the visa process for Turkey remains unaffected by the new measures, which aim to ensure “safe, orderly, and legal entry” into Germany in line with EU law.
Germany’s decision to increase border controls follows a knife attack in Solingen in August, which left three people dead and was claimed by the Islamic State (ISIS) group. The suspect, a Syrian national facing deportation after a failed asylum claim, has brought immigration issues to the forefront of German politics.
Announced just days after the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) gained ground in local elections, the new controls are set to begin on 16 September and will initially last for six months. German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser stated the measures aim to reduce Islamist extremism and cross-border crime, as the government responds to mounting pressure to take a tougher stance on immigration.
