Germany's border controls spark Schengen row and economic fears
The German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, has announced the continuation of temporary controls at Germany's land borders for an extended period in response to the ongoing influx of illegal immigrants.
"We will do this as long as possible. And it will be very long," emphasised the head of the German government on RTL television.
Scholz also admitted in an interview broadcast on Tuesday evening that border controls are currently causing "a lot of trouble."
A month ago, Donald Tusk criticised the tightening of controls at the German borders, calling it "unacceptable." He emphasised that it is, in fact, a large-scale suspension of the Schengen Area.
Controls began on 16 September at Germany's land borders with France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Denmark, as ordered by the German Minister of the Interior, Nancy Faeser.
Similar controls have been in place at the borders with Austria, Poland, Switzerland, and the Czech Republic since 16 October 2023. Their aim is, among other things, to combat cross-border crime and reduce illegal migration.
Within two weeks of the start of these controls, the federal police recorded 2,448 unauthorised entries. 1,546 people were sent back after illegal border crossings. The decision by the German Ministry of the Interior to introduce temporary controls at the country's land borders was partly triggered by a knife attack in Solingen at the end of August, claimed by the Islamic State. A 26-year-old Syrian killed three people and seriously injured eight.
Border controls. Experts warn Germany
The prolonged controls at Germany's borders could lead to significant economic losses, exceeding €1 billion (£850 million) annually. Experts from Allianz Trade warn that such actions could negatively impact the German economy and neighbouring countries.
According to experts, the reinstatement of border controls in Germany could result in significant transport delays. Analysts predict that the time for crossing border checkpoints in the Schengen Area could increase by up to 20 minutes. Under normal conditions, the report states that "a typical border crossing within the Schengen area takes an average of 3.34 minutes."
As stated in the analysis, "the resulting higher shipping costs will likely lead to a -9.1% decline in German imports of goods and -7.8% of services, totalling €1.1 billion (£900 million) annually.'"
The report indicates that the most affected sectors will be tourism and education, where a cost increase of 3.5% is anticipated. The food sector, with a projected growth of 2.6%, is followed closely by trade, with a 2.4% cost increase. The authors of the analysis emphasise that "machinery and electrical equipment, along with chemicals and pharmaceuticals, are also projected to experience significant import reductions of €147 (£123) million and €142.1 (£119) million, respectively." These figures indicate potential disruptions in key sectors of the German economy.
