Merkel warns: Border control threatens the unity of Europe
Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel strongly criticized the border control measures imposed by the new government led by Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt, warning that the continuation of this approach could lead to the loss of the Schengen Area, thus restricting freedom of movement within the European Union.
Dobrindt, who took office on May 7, said that the tightened border measures resulted in the return of 1,676 people during the first two weeks, averaging 838 cases per week. He considered that these figures "prove the effectiveness of the measures," according to his statement to Focus magazine.
But Merkel expressed her concern that these policies could undermine the idea of the European Union, stating during an event organized by "Südwest Presse": "We must focus on protecting the external borders, while permanent monitoring of the internal borders will cost us the Schengen area." She added: "I have always advocated for European solutions, but unfortunately, they take a long time."
Merkel spoke about the citizens' discomfort with this surveillance, noting that many of her acquaintances have stopped visiting the Polish city of Szczecin due to the complexities of crossing. She emphasized that a European alternative is necessary to avoid the "disintegration of Europe."
This policy has also sparked criticism from within Germany, particularly from the police union, which warned of a lack of resources. The head of the Federal Police, Andreas Roßkopf, confirmed that the police cannot continue at this pace for more than a few weeks, noting that 11,000 officers are currently involved in monitoring, with plans to increase the number to 14,000.
For her part, Green Party MP Irène Mihailescu warned that security forces are already suffering from exhaustion, pointing to work shifts of up to 12 hours and the cancellation of training programs.
At the European level, MP Damian Bozlagar expressed his concern about the impact of this step on the Schengen Agreement, warning of a "domino effect" if Germany ignores the rules. He said, "If Germany does not respect the agreement, other countries like Hungary will invoke it."
In contrast, the Prime Minister of Bavaria and leader of the Christian Social Union, Markus Söder, defended the measures, describing them as a "strong signal" and announcing the end of what he called "uncontrolled migration." He added: "We warn the traffickers: you will no longer be allowed to bring people into Germany without punishment."