Following a fatal stabbing in Bavaria, the Bundestag has approved a resolution to strengthen migration controls.
Driven by rising immigration and security concerns, the German parliament voted to tighten border security, mandating increased checks at land borders. This decision, critics argue, may breach EU law given Germany’s participation in the Schengen Area’s free movement agreement.
This Wednesday’s vote followed a deadly knife attack last week in Bavaria, where a rejected Afghan asylum seeker killed two, including a toddler, and injured others. CDU opposition leader Friedrich Merz subsequently advocated for immediate action, stressing stricter border enforcement and continuous patrols.
Merz’s non-binding motion passed 348 to 345, with 10 abstentions, notably securing support from the far-right AfD. The motion calls for ongoing border controls, random identity checks, and detention of individuals lacking valid residency.
This action reflects a broader European trend; Austria, Denmark, and France have also reinstated border controls and intensified checks due to security concerns.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban welcomed the Bundestag’s vote, posting “Good morning, Germany! Welcome to the club,” on X Thursday. Budapest has also implemented stricter border measures recently.
The decision sparked protests. Hundreds demonstrated in Berlin on Wednesday. Critics, including German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, contend the motion could damage EU unity and violate Schengen rules. Interior Minister Nancy Faeser cautioned about potential legal challenges from Brussels.
The vote precedes Germany’s parliamentary elections on February 23, following the collapse of Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s governing coalition. The CDU leads in polls, followed by the AfD and then Scholz’s SPD.
Germany, Europe’s largest economy, remains a major destination for irregular migrants, receiving almost a quarter of the over 500,000 asylum applications filed in the EU during the first half of 2024. Most applicants are from Syria and Afghanistan, according to the EUAA.
Meanwhile, Germany has experienced a rise in violent crime, with a disproportionate involvement of non-Germans. Bavarian police statistics from 2023 indicate that nearly 40% of violent crimes were committed by foreigners, who comprise just 16% of the population.
A recent Ipsos poll revealed that over one-third of Germans view immigration as a significant personal concern.