IMAGO/hartelpressA car is being checked at the German-Czech border
More than 53,000 people have already been stopped at border controls in Germany this year. Almost half of them were returned. Nearly 1,200 people smugglers have also been arrested.
The German police union is satisfied with the checks that were carried out in the first nine months of this year at the borders with Switzerland, Poland, Austria and the French border. “We have a decrease of more than 14,000 illegal people compared to September last year,” said Manuel Ostermann of the German Federal Police Union.
German border controls do require a lot of police deployment. According to Ostermann, the police can handle it and they are not at the expense of other tasks. “In the long term, we need to use more technology so that we need fewer people at the borders.” The Germans have only been carrying out checks at the border with the Netherlands since mid-September.
Hinder
In Germany, the fear of terrorism was one of the arguments for returning to border controls, but the fight against illegal migration is also an important motivation for the country. The Netherlands wants to use controls at the Dutch borders with Germany and Belgium mainly against irregular migrants and asylum seekers who have previously applied for asylum elsewhere. Although the cabinet also considers it important that economic traffic is not hindered.
Elisabeth Post, chairman of Transport and Logistics Netherlands, fears that these checks will still lead to congestion. “That leads to a lot of economic damage for the transport sector.”
According to Post, the damage caused by delays can easily amount to 75 million euros per month. “And then you are only talking about the direct damage. Because there is of course also damage if you want to go to Hoek van Holland from Germany to catch the boat. If you miss that boat, that damage will be added. it is difficult for us to calculate.”
Priority arrangement
The temporary introduction of border controls is allowed according to European rules, provided the country informs the European Commission in advance. Germany has done that and has been carrying out inspections for over a year now.
Transport and Logistics Netherlands advocates a priority scheme for freight traffic. Post: “We had problems during corona and also during the World Cup in Germany. The delays were also major then. So if freight traffic can now be given priority.”
In the Netherlands, the Royal Military Police must carry out inspections within the limited available staff capacity. But the space to scale up seems limited. Checking every vehicle from Germany and Belgium may therefore be impossible.
Open borders
It is still unclear how long the Dutch border controls will last. The checks can always be extended by six months. Germany will continue with it for at least another year. Ostermann: “As long as there is no broad European solution and we see that Schengen has failed within Europe.”
For the time being, each country is taking its own measures, says Post. “There is actually nothing left of the whole concept of ‘open borders’. And if you don’t know when it will end, you can’t make plans for it. That makes it extremely complicated for transporters and logistics service providers.”
Border Controls: A Comedy of Errors or Just Bad Comedy?
Ah, the German-Czech border! What a hotbed of international intrigue… and absolutely riveting governance. Like a well-planned heist movie, but with a lot more bureaucracy and a distinct lack of action. According to a recent report, over 53,000 people have been stopped at these border controls this year alone. Now that’s one way to reroute your late-night road trip!
Almost half of those poor souls were sent packing, and I can just hear the German police cracking jokes as they hand back the travel documents—“Sorry, you can’t come in! Ever thought about taking up knitting instead?” They say nearly 1,200 people smugglers have been pinched too; I guess they were offering their services on an unlicensed Uber basis. Talk about an illegal ride-share!
Border Patrol or Comedy Patrol?
Manuel Ostermann from the German Federal Police Union seems happy with the results. “More than 14,000 illegal individuals compared to September last year!” You know it’s a good month when you can turn to your mate and say, “We’ve successfully returned 14,000 unwanted guests! How about some strudel to celebrate?”
However, the German police are starting to buzz about needing more technology at the borders. “Fewer people at the borders,” they say. Ah yes, because what every border control needs is a few more drones flying around—nothing says “please keep out” like a flying robot doing the cha-cha around your vehicle.
Hinder or Help?
Now, the fear of terrorism is part of the conversation as well. It seems like a classic cop-out… “If we don’t check every little thing, who knows what could happen?” Meanwhile, the Dutch are feeling left out, wanting to get in on the action by beefing up checks on their border with Germany and Belgium. “We want to screen the irregular migrants and asylum seekers,” they declare. Because, you know, who doesn’t want to be part of a continent-wide game of ‘Who’s at the Border Today?’
Elisabeth Post, who heads up the Transport and Logistics Netherlands, isn’t pleased. She fears a logistical nightmare. “75 million euros a month in damage?” That sounds less like an economic figure and more like the financial aftershocks of betting on your Aunt Marge’s baking competition and losing. The last thing a transport sector worker wants is to be sitting in a jam, missing those all-important deadlines—and by extension, significant money. Because nothing screams “economic stability” like missing boats and weeks-old food deliveries.
A European Déjà Vu?
The temporary controls are allowed under European rules, as long as everyone plays nice and informs the European Commission. Germany’s been doing this for over a year now, which awards them with a gold star, but speaks volumes about the failed Schengen dream—it’s like ordering a fancy Italian meal only to receive soggy fries instead.
Meanwhile, the Dutch are calling for freight traffic to be prioritized. “We’ve been through enough delays, just give us a call if you see a van on the tarmac!” It appears that every crisis, whether real or imagined, leads to cumbersome queues and a race against the clock. Even the Royal Military Police are struggling to inspect vehicles with limited staff. It’s a classic case of, “Let’s check every car, but also, let’s not get too carried away!”
Open Borders? More Like Sprung Hinge!
And what do we make of the whole concept of open borders then? It seems it’s gone the way of the dodo. “What do you mean you don’t know when it’ll end?” Yes folks, this isn’t just about migrants anymore; it’s also about logistics providers playing hopscotch with uncertainty. If only they’d known, perhaps they would have brought a life preserver along with their transport strategies.
So as we watch this grand farce, let’s not forget to laugh a little. Because if you lose your boat because of a border check, you might as well eat the fries—just remember, don’t get too attached to your travel itinerary. It could all go belly up before you can say “Schengen Area.”
This year alone, Germany has seen more than 53,000 individuals stopped at its border controls, with nearly half of those being sent back. Additionally, the authorities have apprehended almost 1,200 suspected people smugglers trying to facilitate unauthorized crossings.
The German police union expressed contentment with the results of the border inspections conducted throughout the first nine months of this year at various borders, including those with Switzerland, Poland, and Austria, as well as the French frontier. “We are witnessing a reduction of over 14,000 illegal entries compared to the same period last year,” commented Manuel Ostermann of the German Federal Police Union, underscoring the effectiveness of these measures.
German border controls necessitate significant police resources and deployment. According to Ostermann, despite the challenges posed, the force is managing effectively without compromising other essential responsibilities. “In the long run, we must incorporate advanced technology at the borders to alleviate the need for extensive personnel,” he added, highlighting a path forward for border management.
In discussions surrounding the German border controls, the need to curb terrorism has emerged as a significant motivating factor alongside combating illegal migration. The Netherlands has also announced plans to enhance border checks with Germany and Belgium, focusing largely on irregular migrants and those seeking asylum who have previously applied in other nations. However, the Dutch government is mindful of ensuring that such measures do not disrupt economic traffic unduly.
Chairwoman of Transport and Logistics Netherlands, Elisabeth Post, has raised concerns that these checks could lead to increased congestion at borders. “Such delays could result in substantial economic repercussions for the transport industry,” she warned, emphasizing the potential impact on operations.
Post elaborated that the financial toll from delays may reach an astonishing 75 million euros per month. “This figure only accounts for the direct losses; the ramifications extend further, particularly for those needing to reach Hoek van Holland from Germany to catch ferries. Missing that connection leads to additional, hard-to-quantify damages,” she explained, highlighting the overarching complexities of transport logistics amid these controls.
According to European regulations, the temporary implementation of border controls is permissible, provided the country notifies the European Commission beforehand. Germany has adhered to this requirement and has conducted inspections for over a year now as part of its border management strategy.
In response to the challenges presented, Transport and Logistics Netherlands is advocating for a prioritized scheme specifically for freight traffic. Post remarked, “We experienced significant delays during the pandemic and the World Cup in Germany. It’s crucial to ensure freight traffic receives the prioritization it needs to function smoothly during these border checks.”
Within the Netherlands, the Royal Military Police is tasked with conducting inspections, albeit under constrained staffing conditions. The ability to scale operations seems limited, raising concerns about the feasibility of checking every vehicle crossing from Germany and Belgium.
Currently, the duration of the Dutch border controls remains uncertain, with each extension potentially lasting up to six months. Germany intends to uphold its controls for at least another year, as noted by Ostermann: “Until a comprehensive European solution is established, the shortcomings of the Schengen agreement will continue to manifest across Europe.”
As it stands, individual countries are implementing their own measures, according to Post. “The original concept of ‘open borders’ has been significantly eroded. Without a clear timeline for when these measures will cease, it is extraordinarily challenging for transporters and logistics providers to plan their operations effectively.”