Germany may extend border controls beyond December amid success against smuggling

Germany's interior minister, Nancy Faeser, indicated that border controls could extend beyond December 15, citing their success against smuggling and irregular migration. The controls, set against a backdrop of a new European asylum system, primarily affect borders with Poland, the Czech Republic, and Switzerland.

Germany's border controls, initially set until December 15, could be extended if needed, announced Interior Minister Nancy Faeser. These measures have reportedly been successful in combating smugglers and irregular migration.

Speaking in Goerlitz, Faeser emphasized the importance of maintaining the controls until the European asylum system is fully operational. The EU reached a significant agreement in December on a new framework for managing asylum and migrant arrivals, expected to be fully implemented by the end of 2025.

The increased border scrutiny with Poland, the Czech Republic, and Switzerland was a response to a rise in first-time asylum applications. Berlin plans to formally notify the European Commission about any potential extension, added Faeser.

(With inputs from agencies.)