Germany's Border Controls: A Move to Combat Irregular Migration and Crime

The German government is extending temporary border controls to all nine of its frontiers in response to recent extremist attacks. This move, aimed at curbing irregular migration and crime, could challenge European unity, impacting the principles of free trade and travel within the EU's Schengen area.

The German government is set to extend temporary border controls to all nine of its frontiers next week as part of a crackdown on irregular migration and crime. This decision follows recent extremist attacks, including deadly knife attacks by Syrian and Afghan asylum-seekers, stoking security fears and political tensions both domestically and within the EU.

The border closures, intended to last six months, threaten to test European unity. Germany, as the EU's economic hub, shares borders with several member states. The move has already drawn criticism from neighboring countries like Poland and Austria, which denounced the closures as "unacceptable," raising concerns over the impact on the Schengen area's principles of free trade and travel.

Economic implications are also a concern. Germany's logistics and freight associations are calling for a selective approach to avoid disruptions in goods transportation. Political ramifications are evident too, with far-right parties gaining ground amid growing backlash against migration. Germany's unpopular coalition government is striving to address these issues ahead of critical state elections.

(With inputs from agencies.)