Belgium Almost 1,200 illegal entries at border controls

Border controls at Germany's national borders have been in place again for three months. However, there can be no talk of habituation or normality. Especially in the region bordering Luxembourg, criticism of the reintroduced controls is unrelenting. This is because they affect tens of thousands of commuters who travel from Germany to work in the Grand Duchy every day - and are stuck in traffic jams on their way home.

What are the results so far?

Since September 16, checks have been carried out in Rhineland-Palatinate at the borders with France, Belgium and Luxembourg as well as in Saarland with France and Luxembourg. Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) had ordered checks at all German state borders for an initial period of six months in order to reduce the number of unauthorized entries.

According to the Federal Police Headquarters in Koblenz, which is responsible for Hesse, Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland, 1,159 illegal entries were counted between September 16 and November 30, of which 726 were from France, 370 from Luxembourg and 63 from Belgium.

Rejections and deportations

535 people were sent back to France, 203 to Luxembourg and 38 to Belgium. The Federal Police points out that the figures included as of November are still provisional and that minor changes may occur later.

A refusal describes the prevention of entry at the border; the person has not yet legally entered Germany. Entry is completed when the border has been crossed and the border crossing point has been passed, according to the Federal Police.

Measures to terminate the stay are taken if the person has already entered the country. This includes deportation and removal. There were 12 cases in this period: 6 to Luxembourg and 6 to France.

The Federal Police also told the German Press Agency that 17 smugglers were caught during the checks. In addition, 37 people were found to have been refused entry.

Criticism of border controls

At the borders with France, Luxembourg and Belgium, there are "no significant refugee movements that would justify such comprehensive controls", said Rhineland-Palatinate Interior Minister Michael Ebling (SPD). "On the contrary, the measures put a considerable strain on economic and cultural exchange as well as commuters in the border regions." Rhineland-Palatinate lives from its close ties with neighboring countries: "This must be protected."

Ebling said that he expected the federal government to subject the control measures to a "regular critical review of their necessity". Border controls within the EU should only be considered as a last resort and remain strictly limited in time. "The Schengen system is a central building block of European integration and must not be undermined lightly."

Resistance from Luxembourg

Border controls are not actually envisaged in the Schengen area. Stationary controls in particular, such as those on the highway 64 to Luxembourg near Trier, have met with criticism - including in Luxembourg. The border controls "can no longer be tolerated", said Luxembourg's Prime Minister Luc Frieden recently in Saarbrücken. They were against the interests of the citizens, weakened the economy and were not a solution to the migration problems.

Frieden announced his opposition to the controls. The Luxembourg parliament has demanded that the government of the Grand Duchy intervene with EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. In addition, the possibility of a legal challenge should be examined, according to a resolution. Luxembourg is dependent on commuters from abroad.

Extension is on the cards

Border controls are also viewed critically in Saarland. Minister-President Anke Rehlinger (SPD) declared after the start: "This is not my Europe, when barriers and police bells once again characterize the image of the borders. It is not the Europe we want in the greater region if the economically important small border traffic is stopped."

A few days ago, Faeser announced her intention to extend border controls to combat illegal migration at all German borders beyond March 2025. These had proved their worth, she said at the conference of interior ministers in Rheinsberg.

In view of the new Bundestag elections on February 23, it is unclear whether Faeser will be able to implement her announcement. However, if the CDU wins the election, it is also likely that the controls will be continued.

40 years of Schengen next year

There will be big celebrations in Luxembourg's Schengen area in 2025. On June 14, it will be 40 years since the Schengen Agreement on uncontrolled border crossings was signed. Today, 29 countries with around 420 million people belong to the Schengen area.

"Of course, we still absolutely disagree with the border controls," Michel Gloden, mayor of the symbolic town in the border triangle with Germany and France, told the German Press Agency. "We see absolutely no point in the border controls."

Commuters are "annoyed" because they are stuck in traffic jams for half an hour or three quarters of an hour every day. In the border triangle, crossing borders to go shopping, meet friends, go to school or work is part of everyday life. Extending the controls would be "terrible and incomprehensible".

However, Gloden is optimistic. "Our slogan is: Schengen is alive!" He is convinced: "Schengen will also manage the whole thing. Because people simply appreciate what it means to be able to move from one country to another without controls."