German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul confirmed the continued enforcement of strict border controls despite complaints that they cause traffic jams. His remarks came during a meeting with the Slovenian Foreign Minister in Berlin, where he stated: “It must be made clear that the irregular inflow into Germany will be subject to control.”
He rejected claims that the border controls had caused major disruptions, affirming that the measures are largely managed in a practical way. He also verified during his visits to Austria and the Czech Republic that no problems had arisen from their implementation. Wadephul further stressed the necessity of border controls to safeguard the EU’s external borders. He expressed confidence that the Union will improve its handling of migration, stating: “Overall, the EU will be better at dealing with the migration issue.”
During his honorary attendance at a Bavarian cabinet meeting, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz praised the results of border controls in curbing irregular migration. He noted that Poland had benefited from Germany’s example, introducing its own border controls to limit migration. Merz stressed that Germany discusses the migration issue with all of its neighboring countries — a point echoed by Bavaria’s prime minister, who confirmed that conditions in the state had improved after the new coalition government adopted a stricter migration policy. The Bavarian prime minister also highlighted the sharp decline in the number of migrants in the state.
On the other hand, the Slovenian Foreign Minister expressed her country’s desire to rely on the Schengen system to ensure free movement across EU borders. She also stressed the importance of ending strict border controls as soon as possible, despite the notable decline in irregular migration rates following their enforcement.
Notably, Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt ordered the enforcement of strict border controls immediately after taking office in early May. The move was widely criticized by Germany’s neighboring countries, particularly Poland, which imposed similar border controls to prevent asylum seekers from being returned from Germany.
