Immigration: Johansson warns Germany: ‘Ready for infringement procedure, if necessary’

Brussels – Germany’s policy on security, immigration, and border controls risks backfiring on the government and the country. The European Commission is standing by but ready to intervene because the Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson,  warns that “as guardian of the Treaties [on the functioning of the EU], the Commission stands ready to initiate appropriate procedures, where deemed necessary and justified, including infringement procedures.”

A warning to Berlin. It is possible to take action within the framework of the law, but carefully, so as not to abuse the freedoms granted to member states. Due to threats to public security, countries can reintroduce border controls, as Germany did, thereby suspending the regular functioning of the Schengen free movement area. However, Johansson further stresses, “any Member State reintroducing such control remains bound by the EU asylum and return acquis.”

The clarification of the rules comes after a parliamentary question by Konstantinos Arvanitis (the Left), who is concerned about the decision taken to reintroduce travel document checks along land borders with Schengen area countries (France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Denmark). Germany may do so, considering that the new European pact on immigration and asylum will not come into force until 2026. Until then, existing regulations apply. However, the EU warns that an infringement procedure is always possible and cannot be ruled out.