Jean-Claude Juncker. Photo: Vincent Kessler / Reuters / Scanpix
Former European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker has voiced his opposition to Germany’s decision to enhance border controls, warning of the inconveniences for daily commuters and the potential threat to European integration, according to dpa.
On September 9, German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser ordered the introduction of temporary checks at all of Germany’s land borders to curb the number of unauthorized entries and to control immigration.
The new measures, expanding existing checks, are set to begin on September 16 and will initially last for six months. They will affect Germany’s borders with Luxembourg, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Denmark, as well as with Austria and Poland, where controls are already in place.
Speaking to dpa from his native Luxembourg, Juncker expressed his disapproval, stating that he does not support such measures as they disrupt the lives of daily commuters. He suggested that mobile checks conducted further from the borders would be less disruptive, particularly for the more than 50,000 German commuters who cross into Luxembourg daily.
While Juncker acknowledged the need for temporary border checks during major events, such as the upcoming Euro 2024 football tournament in Germany, he questioned the necessity of extended controls in response to migration and illegal border crossings. He voiced concerns that these actions could undermine the core principle of the Schengen area—open borders.
Jean-Claude Juncker served as President of the European Commission from 2014 to 2019.
