Faeser: Border controls now possible due to European Football Championships
Published: Friday, Jun 7th 2024, 00:30
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The Federal Police can now carry out temporary checks at all German borders due to the European Football Championship. Travelers from the Schengen area can also be checked in air traffic and at ports, as announced by the German Federal Ministry of the Interior.
The checks will also be carried out at the borders with Denmark, France and the Benelux countries, where there were previously none, the Federal Ministry of the Interior announced. The checks will be carried out "depending on the situation and flexibly", it said. Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) had previously ordered this due to the high security precautions for the European Football Championship, which begins on June 14.
Switzerland also wants to strengthen border controls between June and the beginning of September during the European Football Championships (EC) in Germany and the Olympic Games in Paris, as the Federal Council announced at the end of May. The reason for this is the increased threat of terrorism in connection with the events.
Terror and cyber attacks
"Our focus ranges from the threat of Islamist terror to hooligans and cyber attacks," emphasized Faeser according to the latest press release. "The Federal Police will protect Germany's borders, airports and rail traffic." They are looking forward to the European Football Championship in their own country, but security is their top priority. Travelers and commuters should be affected as little as possible.
The existing stationary controls at the borders with Poland, the Czech Republic and Switzerland were recently extended by six months until mid-December. Faeser ordered them for the first time in October 2023 and has extended them several times since then. The aim is to combat smuggling crime and limit irregular migration.
The temporary controls at all German internal Schengen borders ordered because of the European Championships have been announced at EU level until July 19 - a few days after the final match on July 14. All travelers are asked to carry valid travel documents.
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