Germany's New Border Controls: A Threat to EU Unity?

Germany's new border controls with France, Luxembourg, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Denmark will start on September 16, extending earlier measures with Austria, Poland, the Czech Republic, and Switzerland. The action aims to curb migration and address terrorism, but critics argue it threatens Schengen's free movement principle and could have significant economic repercussions.

Germany has announced new border controls with France, Luxembourg, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Denmark starting September 16, 2023, for an initial six months.

This decision extends existing controls at borders with Austria, Poland, the Czech Republic, and Switzerland, primarily to curb migration and address concerns about terrorism and serious crime, according to Interior Minister Nancy Faeser.

This move comes ahead of regional elections where the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has gained significant support.

The European Commission, responsible for the Schengen treaty, has acknowledged the necessity of such measures under serious threats but stresses they must be proportionate.

Critics argue this breaches the free movement principle foundational to the Schengen area.

Potential economic impacts include a possible loss of €470bn in growth over ten years, as estimated by the Bertelsmann Foundation.