Since mid-October last year, the border police have been conducting selective controls at the borders with Poland, the Czech Republic, and Switzerland. They had already implemented controls at the German-Austrian border in September 2015. The number of migrants entering the country illegally has recently declined, but those seeking asylum usually gain access to the country.
The Greens emphasize that these controls contradict the Schengen Agreement, which guarantees free movement within the EU. The party has even called on the European Commission to intervene and put an end to the controls.
Despite the criticism, the other major coalition partner, the SPD, has spoken out in favor of retaining border controls, albeit in the form of spot checks. The party sees the controls as a necessary measure to ensure security in the country, especially in light of increased migration pressure and recent terrorist threats. The FDP has so far supported the extension of the controls.
Calls for stricter border controls come not only from within Germany but also from neighboring countries such as the Netherlands. In the Netherlands, the recently established far-right four-party coalition led by PVV leader Geert Wilders has decided to significantly expand the already existing temporary controls.
The presence of several million asylum seekers and refugees in Germany remains a highly controversial topic in German politics and society. This debate has been further fueled by the recent terrorist attack in Solingen, in which three people were stabbed to death. The suspected perpetrator is a 26-year-old Syrian whose asylum application was recently rejected. The man was expected to be deported soon.
Opposition leader Friedrich Merz (CDU) called on the governing coalition of SPD, FDP, and Greens to completely stop admitting refugees from Syria and Afghanistan. He advocated for stricter measures to control migrant inflows. Chancellor Olaf Scholz responded by emphasizing that the individual right to asylum "remains intact" and that Germany will fulfill its international obligations.