Researchers: No less immigration due to border controls

Berlin – The migration researcher Gerald Knaus does not expect a significant decrease in the number of asylum seekers from the extension of border controls to all German land borders. “Anyone who expects that border controls will lead to a reduction in irregular migration is raising an expectation that is unattainable,” said the co-initiator of the refugee agreement with Turkey on Deutschlandfunk. The reason is the extension of the already existing spot checks to the borders with Luxembourg, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Denmark this Monday.

Many EU countries have had border controls for a very long time, such as France and Austria. But: “It has not reduced the number of asylum applications at all,” Knaus explained. Border controls are also not a means to prevent Islamist terrorism, as many of the perpetrators had radicalized only after arriving in Germany.

According to him, this would only be possible with radical measures such as a total end to controlled-free travel and the movement of goods between the member states of the relevant Schengen Agreement. “If the idea is actually that we stop all irregular migration at the German borders: This is only possible permanently with an end to Schengen. You would then also need fences at the green border.”

Knaus: EU-wide approach necessary

Knaus also expects little from an acceleration of the return of migrants who have already arrived and been registered in another EU country, as the federal government plans. “If a country like Italy says, we won’t take anyone, and the European Commission does not initiate infringement proceedings, yes, then other countries see that too,” he said. “I’m afraid the whole approach, to prevent irregular migration within the EU, the onward movement, will fail. It has always failed so far.” According to him, an EU-wide approach is necessary: “We need to reduce irregular migration into the EU, we need a discussion about that.” (15.09)