Germany's Tightened Border Controls: Neighboring Countries Express Concerns

Germany's decision to tighten border controls has sparked criticism from neighboring countries, raising concerns about the suspension of the Schengen zone and the legality of the measure. The move has ignited a heated debate on asylum and migration policy, with different countries expressing their support or opposition.

Italy has praised Germany for its stricter controls, while Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has voiced his support for Germany's '#StopMigration' approach. Despite initial fears of disruption, Germany's border crackdown may have a less severe impact than anticipated, as the country has already been turning away illegal crossers since October.

However, this could put pressure on neighboring countries to accommodate more migrants. The uncertainty around the impact on commercial vehicles and calls for a measured implementation to minimize disruption to European trade have been raised.

Greece, as the main arrival destination for irregular migrants, has expressed annoyance over Germany's border controls, highlighting the need for mandatory migrant relocation in the EU Pact. Greece has seen a significant increase in migrant arrivals and argues that Germany's welfare benefits attract migrants, urging other EU states to take in relocated refugees.

The introduction of more border controls in the Schengen area, which is supposed to be borderless, has also drawn criticism within the EU, as it contradicts the principle that has been gradually weakened over the past decade.

Bayern has criticized Austria's refusal to accept rejected migrants, citing clear legal obligations and the argument that those denied entry into Germany are still in Austria. The debate over border controls has also prompted discussions about accelerated asylum procedures in border regions, with some officials expressing doubts about the feasibility of such plans due to a lack of detention facilities and personnel.