German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt on Thursday ruled out ending Germany's border controls within the Schengen area, saying the measures remain necessary despite growing criticism from European partners. Asked on the sidelines of a meeting of EU interior ministers in Luxembourg whether the controls at Germany's borders would now be removed, Dobrindt replied: "No."
The measures of recent months had been "effective" and were therefore "still necessary," the German interior minister said. Protection of the EU's external borders still needed to become "significantly better," he added. Only after that, Dobrindt said, could countries "together" discuss ending the border controls.
Dobrindt's remarks came after renewed calls from EU officials and neighboring countries to begin ending border controls within the Schengen area. "Now is the right time to gradually move away from these border controls," EU Home Affairs Commissioner Magnus Brunner said on Thursday in Luxembourg ahead of the meeting of EU interior ministers.
Brunner pointed to the changes that have been made in EU migration policy. In this context, he said he had "always had understanding for Germany," but stressed that "Schengen must function." Luxembourg Foreign Minister Léon Gloden called for the controls to be ended "immediately."
Gloden referred to an assessment by the European Commission which found that Germany had not provided sufficient evidence that the border controls were justified under the rules governing free movement within the Schengen area. According to Gloden, the European Commission had adopted Luxembourg's argument, although unfortunately only very late and without a clear timetable for ending the controls.
"I hope that in further discussions with all EU partners we can work towards Schengen once again being Schengen, as laid down in the treaties," Gloden said. "Schengen is one of the greatest achievements for citizens. There are concrete freedoms for citizens, and Luxembourg will do everything it can to ensure that Schengen is fully restored."
A total of nine countries in the Schengen area currently maintain controls at their borders with other Schengen countries, including Germany, Austria and the Netherlands. On Tuesday, the European Commission urged those countries to end the controls.
The Commission cited the entry into force of the EU Asylum Pact next week and the introduction of the new Entry/Exit System (EES). In addition, the European Parliament and EU member states this week agreed on a controversial regulation intended to make deportations to third countries easier.
According to the European Commission, Schengen member states have departed from the principle of unrestricted freedom of travel in more than 490 cases since 2006. Under the Schengen Borders Code, a member state may reintroduce border controls only in "exceptional circumstances," and only on a "temporary" basis and as a "last resort." Germany has, in principle, maintained controls at its borders continuously since 2015, with varying levels of intensity.
Sharp criticism of Dobrindt's position came from Germany's Green Party. Marcel Emmerich, the Greens' spokesperson on interior affairs, accused the minister of ignoring the rule of law, the European idea and criticism from across Europe.
"Dobrindt is ignoring the rule of law, the European idea and the criticism from Europe. Instead of creating solutions, he is sticking to a policy that divides Europe, burdens commuters and costs the economy millions," Emmerich said. One consequence, he argued, is that "thousands of police officers are stationed at the borders while they are missing at railway stations, on trains and in the fight against crime within the country."
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