Prolonged Border Controls at German-Luxembourg Border: Contentious Measures Amidst EU Ideals
Since mid-September 2024, border controls have been reinstated at all external German borders, including the checkpoint on the A64 Autobahn between Germany and Luxembourg. This move, a surprise to none according to Stefan Döhn of the Trier Federal Police Inspectorate, has been extended for another six months by the German government, citing the need to combat irregular migration.
The extension of border controls, initially set to expire in mid-March, has raised concerns and sparked criticism. While the Federal Police Service has anticipated the move and is preparing to erect a large tent at the checkpoint to protect officers and drivers from inclement weather, many commuters and residents express their frustration with the delays.
"I find it good, and it should stay that way," said one driver of the controls, adding that his daily commute from the Mosel region to Luxembourg takes an additional ten minutes due to the traffic buildup. Another driver echoed this sentiment, citing the need for security.
However, many commuters who travel daily from Germany to work in Luxembourg resent the controls, arguing that they lead to delays of up to 20 minutes on their return trips. Over 50,000 German border commuters work in Luxembourg, and the Grand Duchy relies heavily on their services.
The Luxembourg government has reacted strongly to the extension of border controls, with Interior Minister Léon Gloden planning to file a complaint with the European Commission, arguing that the justification of combating illegal migration is legally untenable.
"Border controls should not become the norm under any circumstances," said Michel Gloden, Mayor of Schengen, the symbolic Luxembourgish town in the tri-border area with Germany and France. He expressed his dismay at the extension, stating that it "brings nothing but trouble and a bad atmosphere."
Schengen represents one of the European Union’s greatest achievements: borderless travel. On June 14th, the 40th anniversary of the signing of the Schengen Agreement will be commemorated with an event. "We will warn and remind people of what we are putting at risk," said Michel Gloden, emphasizing that border controls are "a step backwards."
The focus of the border controls is on apprehending individuals attempting to enter illegally, human traffickers, and persons wanted on arrest warrants. According to Döhn, there have been numerous successful interventions, with approximately 650 illegal entries, 380 rejections, and 13 human traffickers arrested at the Luxembourg border up to the end of January.
However, Uwe Conradt, Mayor of Saarbrücken, argues that the "security gain" from border controls is limited to random discoveries. He advocates for intelligent and flexible controls inland instead, describing the current practice of controlling a single border crossing in his city as "completely predictable" for criminals.
Conradt strongly criticizes the extension, seeing it as a "step backwards in European integration." He highlights that people in the border region with France and Luxembourg are experiencing the suspension of the Schengen mechanism, a core element of the "lived Europe" they know.
The potential implications of a new German government under Chancellor-in-waiting Friedrich Merz (CDU) remain unclear. During his election campaign, Merz called for permanent border controls at all neighboring countries. However, he has since stated that this does not imply a questioning of the European Single Market.
In Rhineland-Palatinate, there is another permanent checkpoint on the A60 at the Belgian border. According to Döhn, the current staffing levels are sufficient for this operation, with support from the mobile control and surveillance unit in Koblenz. However, he acknowledges that continuous controls at all border crossings would require "quite a lot of personnel," as there are 36 border crossings between Rhineland-Palatinate and Luxembourg and Belgium.
The prolonged German-Luxembourg border controls have ignited a debate about the balance between security concerns and the fundamental principles of the European Union. As concerns over irregular migration persist, it remains to be seen how the German government will address both the practical and the symbolic implications of these measures.
