Germany to keep border controls as long as necessary

Record ID: 163611

  • Title: Germany to keep border controls as long as necessary
  • Date: 9th January 2017
  • Summary: COLOGNE, GERMANY (JANUARY 9, 2017) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF TRADE CENTRE HOSTING GERMAN TRADE UNION MEETING GERMAN INTERIOR MINISTER THOMAS DE MAIZIERE ARRIVING FOR TRADE UNION ADDRESS DE MAIZIERE TALKING WIDE OF CONFERENCE DE MAIZIERE GOING UP TO STAGE PEOPLE LISTENING (SOUNDBITE) (German) GERMAN INTERIOR MINISTER THOMAS DE MAIZIERE, SAYING: "The current border controls do not mean the end of Schengen. I want to return to an open Europe and a border-free Schengen. The one condition for this, however, is that we reach a unified asylum and migration policy Europe-wide and thereby achieve a better protection of our outer borders. As long as this is not working reliably we will combat illegal immigration into Germany with border controls where they are necessary. We, most of all, wish that this will not be necessary for long but as long as it is a necessity we will continue to maintain border controls beyond February 15, 2017."
  • Embargoed: 24th January 2017 12:41
  • Keywords: De Maiziere electronic tagging border controls asylum refugees
  • Location: COLOGNE + BAD VILBEL, GERMANY
  • City: COLOGNE + BAD VILBEL, GERMANY
  • Country: Germany
  • Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace,International/National Security
  • Reuters ID: LVA0015YCZN7R
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Germany's Interior Minster Thomas de Maiziere on Monday (January 9) said domestic border controls would remain in place as long as there was a perceived threat to regional security.
    Despite the effective closing of the West Balkan route to refugees de Maiziere said there were still serious concerns about the external borders of the European Union.
    "The current border controls do not mean the end of Schengen. I want to return to an open Europe and a border-free Schengen. The one condition for this, however, is that we reach a unified asylum and migration policy Europe-wide and thereby achieve a better protection of our outer borders. As long as this is not working reliably we will combat illegal immigration into Germany with border controls where they are necessary," De Maiziere said during an annual meeting of German labour unions.
    As politicians return to the stage after the holidays and at the start of a national election year, security is high on the agenda.
    Germany's justice ministry is considering the use of electronic tags for people that are considered a threat but have not yet been convicted.
    "The idea of electronic ankle devices is a good one. It reflects one of the list of measures I recommended in summer. I am pleased that the justice minister has taken up my suggestion. It is necessary to differentiate between ankle devices for convicted criminals and for those that are a threat and if there is a good legal way for the government to regulate this then I am in full support," de Maiziere said, answering reporters' questions.
    Electronic tagging is one of a raft of security measures under consideration as Germany grapples with heightened terror threats.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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