The border controls along all German borders are aimed at “combating cross-border crime and further restricting illegal migration,” the Interior Ministry said on Sunday, a day before the expanded measures come into effect.
Neighboring countries have expressed concern that the border controls will lead to traffic jams, hampering regular cross-border traffic. The measures were announced last week amid a bitter German debate over migration, which has been fueled by a series of recent attacks.
Police will conduct the spot checks “flexibly and in accordance with current security requirements,” the Interior Ministry said. The scope, duration and specific locations for the checks would depend on these factors.
Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said Germany will continue to act “in close cooperation” with neighboring countries and ensure that “people in border regions, commuters, trade and business are affected as little as possible by the controls.”
She told the newspaper Bild am Sonntag that there would be no long traffic jams. However, her ministry indicated that disruptions could not be ruled out, while noting that travelers and commuters must carry ID when crossing the border.
The assurances came after Danish police warned of traffic jams due to Germany’s planned border controls.
The situation is further exacerbated by roadworks at the E45 junction at Frøslev, which will last until November and will reduce the road to one lane.
Denmark has also introduced controls at its border with Germany, recently extending them until November.
Starting Monday, Germany will implement additional border controls for six months at its borders with France, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Denmark, extending measures already in place at its borders with Switzerland, Austria, Poland and the Czech Republic.
Several European countries, including Poland, Denmark and Greece, have criticised the expanded checks, which are only intended for exceptional cases within Europe’s passport-free Schengen area.
