"Merz said the plans meant that "we will be able to shift border controls to Europe's external borders" but without specifying when German border controls may be lifted. Germany first introduced border checks with its nine neighbours in September 2024 under former chancellor Olaf Scholz, aiming to curb irregular immigration and heighten security. Merz's government further tightened border checks when it took power in May, moving to boost police numbers and reject most asylum seekers as part of a crackdown on migration."
"Members of Europe's Schengen area are allowed to temporarily reintroduce border controls for up to two years in response to serious threats such as terrorism or large-scale unauthorised migration. Speaking in the western city of Mainz, Merz said that he had "always considered the border controls to be something of limited duration". "If a common European asylum policy is launched in the European Union, that will be exactly what we always wanted," he said."
EU interior ministers in Brussels supported measures including creation of "return hubs" outside the 27-nation bloc for failed asylum seekers and penalties for migrants refusing to leave. Measures would allow migrants to be returned to countries deemed "safe" even if not their origin countries and include longer detention periods. German leader Merz said plans would allow shifting border controls to Europe's external borders while not specifying when German checks might be lifted. Germany had introduced and later tightened border checks since September 2024 to curb irregular immigration, boost police numbers, and reject most asylum seekers. The measures require European Parliament approval.
Read at The Local Germany
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