Germany tightens border controls amid rising tensions in Schengen Zone

Germany is tightening its land border controls and imposing restrictions on the Schengen zone, CNN reports. Effective immediately, Germany will enforce internal border checks not only with Austria, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, and Poland but also with France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Denmark. The move has sparked strong reactions from Germany’s European neighbors.

The new regulations, which will remain in place for an initial six-month period, grant Germany the authority to deny entry at all land borders. Interior Minister Nancy Fesser said that these measures were part of Germany’s broader efforts to bolster internal security and maintain a firm stance against illegal migration.

The decision has drawn criticism from neighboring countries, testing the unity of the European bloc. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk described the tightened controls as unacceptable, calling for urgent negotiations with affected nations. Greece and Austria have also announced that they will not accept migrants rejected by Germany.

As a member of the border-free Schengen area, Germany is permitted under EU rules to temporarily reintroduce internal border controls in response to significant threats to public policy or internal security, although such measures are meant to be a last resort.

The tightening of border controls follows a recent deadly attack in Solingen on August 23, where three individuals were fatally stabbed by a 26-year-old Syrian man allegedly affiliated with the Islamic State terrorist group. The incident has intensified the German government’s focus on security and migration issues.