The Schengen Agreement (a treaty on freedom of movement signed by most European countries) allows European countries to impose border controls "as a last resort" to deal with a serious threat to internal security or public policy.
German police stop a vehicle moving along the German-Polish border to prevent illegal immigration. Photo: Reuters
Below is a list of European countries that are taking measures to tighten their borders to prevent illegal immigration.
Shirt
Austria introduced border checks with the Czech Republic in October, which are scheduled to last until December 6. Since November, Austria has also extended border controls with Slovenia and Hungary until May 2024, aimed at preventing illegal migration, threats of arms trafficking, criminal networks linked to the conflict in Ukraine and human smuggling.
Denmark
Denmark tightened border controls at Copenhagen airport in August to boost security following the Koran burning incident. Denmark has extended the tightening measures at the Danish-German land border and at ports with ferry connections to Germany until May 2024, according to the EU Commission.
The Danish government said the move was in response to an increase in irregular migration, as well as threats from terrorism and organized crime, foreign intelligence and the conflict in Ukraine.
Virtue
Germany announced controls in September on its land borders with Poland, the Czech Republic and Switzerland, to be in place until December 4, in response to increased immigration and high levels of smuggling.
Germany has also tightened land border controls with Austria until May 2024 in response to strains in its asylum system, security threats related to terrorism in the Middle East and the conflict in Ukraine.
IDEA
Italy tightened controls on its northeastern land border with Slovenia from 21 October over concerns that migrants transiting the Balkan route could be terrorists.
The controls will be in place until at least December 9. Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi said the measures could be extended into next year.
Norway
Norway, a Schengen country but not an EU member, has reintroduced border controls at ports with ferry connections to the Schengen area since November 12. Norway cited threats to onshore and offshore infrastructure, as well as from foreign intelligence agencies. The controls will last until May 5, 2024.
Poland
Poland has extended temporary controls on its border with Slovakia until December 3 due to an increase in illegal migrants.
Sweden
Sweden has been stepping up border checks since August, giving border police more powers including body searches and increasing the use of electronic surveillance. It has extended border checks until May 2024.
France
France has reimposed border controls with Schengen members since November, citing the threat of terrorism. The controls will last until April 30, 2024.
French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin announced increased security in October at the Belgian border after an attacker killed two people in Brussels.
Slovakia
Slovakia on November 20 approved maintaining temporary controls on its border with Hungary until December 23. The Slovak government is seeking to curb the number of illegal migrants. In November, the country said the number of migrants apprehended this year had increased by about 500% compared to 2022.
Slovenia
Slovenia on November 17 extended border controls with Schengen members until December 9 due to armed conflicts in Ukraine, the Middle East and Africa, as well as increased threats from organized crime and terrorism.
Slovenia also plans to reintroduce controls at these borders for six months, starting on December 22. Earlier in October, Slovenia deployed police at border crossings with Croatia and Hungary.
Finland
Finland temporarily closed all but one of its eight passenger border crossings to Russia on November 24 after more than 700 migrants arrived at different border posts in just two weeks. The country has not yet announced a reopening date.
Hoai Phuong (according to Reuters)
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