German Chancellor Olaf Scholz wants to maintain existing border controls with several neighboring countries “as long as possible.” “They have proven to be very effective,” Scholz said in an interview with ZDF’s “heute journal” program.
We must always do so within the framework of European law. But I can assure you that we will succeed. – said the chancellor.
Checks have been carried out at the borders with Poland, the Czech Republic and Switzerland since mid-October last year, and at the border between Germany and Austria since September 2015. The number of illegal entries has decreased recently.
However, anyone who wants to apply for asylum can normally enter the country. Leader of the opposition Christian Democratic CDU party, Friedrich Merz recently called for a blanket ban on accepting refugees from Syria and Afghanistan. Scholz told ZDF that the individual right to asylum remains intact. This is what our Constitution states. And no one will question that with my support. – he emphasized.
Merz and Scholz spoke for an hour on Tuesday. The meeting had been planned for weeks, but just days after the knife attack in Solingen, migration policy took center stage.
During the conversation, Merz presented several proposals to the chancellor and proposed close cooperation in the area of migration policy, the Tagesschau portal wrote. Scholz promised to consider the matter and respond shortly.
Merz expects the chancellor to give a response in the coming days.
