Theoretically the “Schengen zone» guarantees open borders and free movement without passport controls. At Germany however the political developments and terrorist attacks of recent weeks seem to be leading to other ways. “Until we can ensure better border protection based on the common European asylum system we must protect our national borders,” German Interior Minister Nancy Feser of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) said on Monday.

According to Fezer, the imposition of controls would contribute to a drastic reduction in the number of asylum seekers, but also to the fight against Islamic terrorism and cross-border crime.

From next Monday it will be done check on the travel documents of those traveling to Germany by car, bus or train from five neighboring “Schengen countries”: France, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg and Denmark. Similar controls are already in place at the borders with Poland, the Czech Republic, Switzerland and Austria. The Ministry of the Interior estimates that due to these controls, 30,000 people who did not have the right to enter the country have already been identified.

Systematic checks for two years?

Details regarding the frequency and intensity of the controls were also made known. It remains unclear whether they are consistent with the provisions of the “Schengen Zone” and European law. According to estimates so far, the checks will initially last six months and may be extended for a period of up to two years “if there is a specific threat to national security”.

Germany is located in the heart of Europe and shares common borders with nine countries. The question is whether border controls will lead to time-consuming procedures, delaying or discouraging those wishing to travel to Germany, with potential consequences for the German economy. On top of that, the measures affect 240,000 people who commute to Germany every day for business reasons to return home after work.

Already the Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk he called the imposition of border controls “unacceptable” and said his government would proceed with urgent consultations with the countries adversely affected.

In Austria the government has made it clear that it will not accept immigrants who are not accepted in Germany. “This is the law, there is no room for negotiation,” Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner told the Bild newspaper.

Realpolitik instead of common solutions?

Alberto Horst Neidhardt, an analyst at the European Policy Center in Brussels, points out the possibility of inseparability at the borders, as soon as one country prevents the entry of immigrants, but the neighboring countries will not accept them either.

But the most essential risk is another, Alberto Horst Neidhardt points out: “This move can cause chain reactions and similar practices from countries such as France and the Netherlands, where governing or co-governing parties follow a restrictive immigration policy. The search for reforms for a common immigration policy could give way to Realpolitik, short-term political choices, the predominance of national interests.”

Many point out that Germany’s attitude to refugee has changed dramatically since the so-called “refugee crisis” of 2015.

During the time of Angela Merkel, the country had welcomed hundreds of thousands of refugees, mainly from Syria. However, according to Alberto Horst Neidhardt, the controls announced now are considered “more of a political message to the voters, than a substantial answer for the risks invoked by the government».

Edited by: Yiannis Papadimitriou