Germany’s Border Controls Reflect Rising Concern on Uncontrolled Immigration in EU

Germany is extending border controls across all of its land borders, citing concerns about migration, Islamist terrorism, and crime. Following recent regional elections, the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has seen an increase in support. Critics believe that the controls are politically driven, contradicting EU legislation and harming the Schengen zone’s free mobility. Several European countries have established border checks, often owing to security concerns, but Germany’s decision may strain relations with neighboring countries and put EU unity to the test. Economists warn that reintroducing internal border controls might have a severe negative impact on European economic growth.

Editor’s Note: While it is easy to blame Germany’s actions on the growth of the far-right AfD party, it is important to consider why Germans—and Europeans in general—support these policies. Is it just xenophobia or nationalism, or is there a deeper socioeconomic strain driving these decisions?

Mass migration indicates larger systemic issues—wars, economic instability, and climate change. When countries like Germany decide to close their borders, it raises critical questions about how well the EU can cope with these challenges, particularly when member states like Italy and Greece continue to bear a disproportionate burden. While the Schengen zone promotes free movement, unchecked migration has tested this framework, exposing economic and security vulnerabilities. It forces countries like Germany to decide between upholding EU ideals and addressing the real pressures on their infrastructure and economy.

But the bigger question is: Will closing borders solve these problems? Or is it simply a temporary fix to much more complex global issues like economic inequality, labor shortages, and security concerns? [To read more about this issue and how it might cause a ripple effect, read these articles from outside sources: Germany brings back border checks to curb migration, experts question impact, Germany risks EU ‘chain reaction’ with new border checks, Which other Schengen countries have border checks in place?]

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