Tough migration stances challenge Schengen open border zone of EU

With Germany ramping up border controls and more EU countries contemplating stricter migration rules, the Schengen zone of free movement – and its absence of border checks – seems to be crumbling. But this has not put off those seeking full Schengen membership, reported dpa and enr.

A long-standing debate in Germany on how to handle migrants has intensified following deadly knife attacks in Solingen and Mannheim this year, prompting Europe's largest economy to expand border controls despite protest from its neighbours.

The Solingen suspect, a Syrian citizen, had evaded an order to be deported from Germany to Bulgaria, where he first entered the European Union. And an Afghan citizen is in custody following the Mannheim attack in May, which left a police officer dead.

On September 16, Germany expanded controls to the frontiers of all nine of its neighbours in the hope of curbing the flow of irregular migrants, addressing threats from Islamist terrorist groups and clamping down on cross-border criminal organizations.

The move, however, has sparked protests from other EU member states.

Germany lies at the heart of Europe and of the visa-free Schengen zone, which is designed to allow the free movement of people and goods, a core tenet of the EU.

Poland, Austria and Greece have been among countries to complain about the border checks, which are set to last an initial six months.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk condemned the move as "unacceptable" and his Greek counterpart, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, said that an "unilateral abolition of Schengen" was not the answer.

German spot checks on the borders with Poland, the Czech Republic, Austria and Switzerland were already in place and have now been expanded to France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Belgium and Denmark.

With national elections looming in Germany next year, the knife attacks have put major political pressure on Chancellor Olaf Scholz's government to toughen its stance on migrants and asylum seekers. The issue has dominated recent state elections that have significantly boosted anti-immigrant parties.

But this is not exclusive to Germany.

The success of far-right parties in elections in key European countries is prompting even centrist and left-wing governments to tighten policies on migration, sparking concern among activists.

Experts: Border checks won't curb migration

UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi told the German newspaper Stuttgarter Zeitung there were "alternatives to restrictive measures," citing faster and fairer asylum systems as an example.

"A fixation on border controls will not deter the truly desperate," Grandi added.

Migration researcher Gerald Knaus does not expect the extension of border controls to all German land borders to lead to a noticeable decrease in the number of asylum seekers.

"Anyone who expects border controls to lead to a reduction in irregular migration is creating an expectation that is unrealizable," he said on German broadcaster Deutschlandfunk.

Border controls were also not a means of preventing Islamist terrorism, as many of the perpetrators became radicalized in Germany, he added.

What is Schengen?

The border-free Schengen area allows free movement for more than 425 million EU citizens and non-EU citizens who legally live, work, travel or study in the bloc.

Named after a village in Luxembourg, the Schengen zone started as an intergovernmental project with five countries in 1985: Luxembourg, Germany, France, Belgium and the Netherlands.

In waves, the Schengen zone grew and now incorporates most EU countries – except Cyprus and Ireland – as well as non-EU states Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Lichtenstein.

Today, it is considered the biggest zone of free movement in the world. According to EU figures, 3.5 million people cross internal borders every day.

Even though Germany's decision has sparked controversy, it is not the only Schengen member with border checks.

Austria, Denmark, France, Italy, Norway, Slovenia and Sweden also have temporary measures in place.

Bulgaria and Romania: Half in, half out?

While established members grapple with their attachment to Schengen, Bulgaria and Romania are still trying to complete their membership of the free movement area, in the face of Austrian opposition.

As of March 31, Bulgaria and Romania have partially joined the Schengen area.

Controls for internal sea and air travel have been lifted, while controls at land borders remain. EU officials expect a decision on full Schengen membership by the end of the year.

In December last year, Austria was the only EU country that did not support a complete abolition of border checks at the Bulgarian and Romanian Schengen borders, citing migration concerns.

Austria's veto and its new migration portfolio

Austria's EU commissioner-designate is Finance Minister Magnus Brunner who is in line to receive the European Commission's migration portfolio.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's decision to nominate Brunner stirred controversy in Brussels, given Austria's ongoing Schengen blockade as well as his lack of direct experience.

Romanian EU lawmaker Siegfried Mureşan pointed out, however, that Austria will no longer be able to use the migration issue as a pretext to block Bulgaria and Romania from joining Schengen.

"The solution to this problem will depend on their own commissioner," Mureşan said in the European Parliament last week.

The new EU commissioner-designates are yet to pass their "grilling" by the EU legislature before the new commission can be finally confirmed.

Historically, not all candidates pass their hearing, in which case their countries need to nominate a new person.

NB: The content of this article is based on reporting by AFP, AGERPRES, APA, BTA, CTK, dpa, EFE, and STA as part of the European Newsroom (enr) project.