Merz: EU law allows for the implementation of border controls and we are exercising this right

EU law allows for the implementation of border controls, and we are exercising this right – said German Chancellor Friedrich Merz at a conference in Brussels. He added that Germany does not want to leave the security of the external European borders only to those who have these borders.

“I am a supporter of the European single market, and especially the Schengen area, and I want to convey this to all heads of state and government in Europe who may be concerned about the escalation of the situation: we do not want to restrict cross-border movement, we do not want to impose any obstacles. This is a huge benefit we have – the Schengen area – and we want to maintain it,” he said.

He added that the EU’s Dublin Regulation states that an asylum application must be submitted in the country of entry, and “generally speaking, this is rarely Germany.”

“Thus, applying for asylum – whether we are talking about European or German asylum law – at the European Schengen border should not be possible, and the previous government was already implementing return measures,” he said.

He added that he had also spoken with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk in Warsaw and made it very clear that Germany does not want to leave the security of the external European borders only to those who have these borders.

“We are not talking about Poland’s external borders or the borders belonging to other member states. These are external European borders that we as Germans, who do not have any external border except for the border with Switzerland, must support, and we will face this challenge, we will face it,” he added.

Present at the conference, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that member states can introduce border controls at their internal borders, but this must be time-limited.

“The second prerequisite is strict coordination with the Commission. Yesterday, the Commissioner for Migration Magnus Brunner spoke by phone with the German Minister of the Interior, but this must also be closely coordinated with neighboring countries, and as I understand it, Germany is in contact with neighboring countries and discussing these matters,” she said.

On Wednesday, German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt announced that all illegal migrants would be turned back at the country’s borders, even if they are seeking asylum. Border controls are set to be tightened, and the number of officers at the borders will be increased.

The Dublin Regulation is a European Union regulation that determines which member state is responsible for examining an asylum application submitted by a third-country national. (09.05.2025)