Before border controls begin: Concerns about the impact

Border controls with Belgium and the Netherlands, which will begin on Monday, are causing concern in the North Rhine-Westphalia border region. “We are concerned that border controls could change the character of our region,” Herzogenrath, a city spokesman, told German media. “There is a risk that they will burden thousands of people in both countries and have negative economic consequences.”

In Herzogenrath, the German-Dutch border runs right through the city center. “Many people in both cities live, work or run errands on the other side of the border every day,” the spokesperson said. The border is invisible and fluid in many places. The city does not want to see old border houses and barriers re-established. “Instead of reviving the EU’s internal border, we need to find solutions that protect the EU’s external border. What cannot be achieved on the external border can hardly be compensated for internally.”

Initially, you will be subject to border control for six months.

Federal Interior Minister Nancy Pärser (SPD) has ordered border controls to be implemented at all German borders from Monday to further curb unauthorized entry. The additional controls will initially last for six months. They affect France, Denmark, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg. These controls already exist on the borders of Austria, Poland, the Czech Republic and Switzerland. In fact, they are not available in the Schengen area.

In North Rhine-Westphalia, the Federal Police said checks would begin at midnight on Monday. “That doesn’t mean that everyone crossing the border will be checked. There will be no total control,” said a DPA spokesperson. “But everyone should be prepared for the fact that they will be checked if they cross the border without any reason.” There are no fixed checkpoints, the concept is mobile.

“Random, selective and ad hoc checks will be conducted at various points in the traffic flow,” the spokesperson said. Additional checks will also involve patrol cars, police motorcycles and civilian vehicles. Commuting and travel traffic should be affected as little as possible.

Challenges for Cross-Border Commuters

“We are shocked by the news that Germany wants to impose increased controls on all federal borders,” said a spokesperson for the Euregio Rhine-Waal. This is “bad news” for the region. Open borders would have greatly facilitated social and economic connections. Cross-border commuters who cross borders every day for work, study and school will feel the consequences. This measure contradicts the idea of ​​a Europe without borders.

The German-Dutch special purpose association Euregio Rhein-Maas-Nord is also concerned about the problem of cross-border commuters. Border residents are used to working, shopping, refueling and visiting their families or doctors across the border, an association spokesperson said. It therefore makes sense to reintroduce commuter cards, which employers have already issued during the corona pandemic, to allow cross-border commuters to cross the border easily without major controls.

Concerns about economic damage

In principle, the controls should be implemented in such a way that the rights of Schengen residents are not violated. “This includes, among other things, free travel through the member states,” said Euregio Rhine-Maas-Nord. The North Rhine-Westphalia Tourism Association expects waiting times in some places due to the temporary controls. It is not yet possible to predict to what extent this will affect travel and leisure activities, especially in areas near the border.

The German-Dutch Chamber of Commerce said Dutch businessmen were completely surprised by the sudden introduction of border controls and warned against it. Prolonged controls could cause economic damage to both Dutch and German companies, for whom Germany is the world’s most important export market. Even if the intensity of the controls has not been finalized, it will cost retailers time and money.

Logistics Industry: Waiting Times and Traffic Congestion

According to the logistics association TLN, around 100,000 trucks cross the German-Dutch border every day. According to the Chamber of Commerce, each hour of waiting costs 100 euros per truck driver. The North Rhine-Westphalia Freight Logistics Association warns that the planned border controls could lead to delays in truck deliveries. Experience from the corona pandemic and the European Championships has shown that such controls can lead to long waiting times and traffic jams.

However, it is currently unclear how intensive the crackdown will be and the impact on freight transport cannot be assessed. According to the association, there is a lack of planning security. The Transport Logistics Association of North Rhine-Westphalia explains that logistics needs open borders. “As an industry, we depend on the free movement of goods. If that no longer works, we will no longer know how to ensure supply for the population and the economy,” said an association spokesperson.