"Germany Expands Border Controls Amid Growing Pressure from Right Over Migration"

The governing parties are working to counter the growing challenge from the far right ahead of crucial upcoming elections.

A German police officer halts a bus at the French border as Berlin implements new border control measures across all nine of its neighboring Schengen zone countries. [Joachim Herrmann/Reuters]

Germany has expanded its border controls, now checking crossings with all nine of its neighboring countries. The measures, introduced on Monday, aim to curb the entry of undocumented migrants and are set to last six months.

The move has faced criticism from other EU members, rights groups, and Brussels, as it disrupts the border-free Schengen zone. However, with national elections approaching, Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s government is under pressure from far-right groups to adopt a tougher stance on migration following a recent deadly knife attack.

The controls include temporary structures at land crossings and spot checks by federal police. Previously, checks were in place with Poland, the Czech Republic, Austria, and Switzerland. The new regime extends these controls to the borders with France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Denmark.