Germany to Impose Temporary Border Controls with France

Germany's Interior Minister Nancy Vizer announced today, Sunday, July 14, 2024, the imposition of temporary border control measures with France to enhance security before and during the Olympic Games in the French capital, Paris.

This decision is being undertaken in cooperation with French authorities.

The German Interior Ministry stated that the European Commission will soon be notified of these operations. The Paris Olympics are scheduled to take place from July 26 to August 11 this year.

Conversely, Germany will lift the border control measures it implemented with Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg during the UEFA Euro 2024 tournament starting July 19.

Instead, mobile inspection operations and targeted inspections based on specific notifications or information will resume.

Minister Vizer emphasized that border inspections on Germany's borders with Austria, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, and Poland will continue to combat illegal migration and human trafficking.

Vizer criticized demands from the opposition Christian Union and the Free Democratic Party (the smaller partner in the ruling coalition) to maintain strict border controls with neighboring countries like the Netherlands or Denmark after the Euro tournament.

She indicated that those advocating for such measures must justify the significant impact on daily laborers, travelers, and sectors of trade and economy, and explain how this aligns with European law.

European legal guidelines require the presence of a serious threat to public order or internal security to conduct border control operations, permitting such operations on internal borders temporarily and as a last resort.