Germany to Tighten Border Control After Stabbing Incident

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Facts

  • Germany has announced that it will apply further temporary border checks from Sept. 16 in order to stop irregular migration and 'protect the people in our country,' following the deaths of three people after a stabbing in Solingen last month.[1][2]
  • Germany's border totals over 3.7K Kilometres (2.3K Miles). Islamic State have claimed responsibility for August's attack, while German police have arrested a Syrian national in connection to the incident.[3]
  • Having already established temporary border controls with Austria, Poland, the Czech Republic, and Switzerland, this will now be expanded to France, Luxembourg, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Denmark.[4]
  • While the European Union's (EU) Schengen Area guarantees free movement for all member nations bar Cyprus and Ireland, the bloc allows members to temporarily reintroduce borders in 'the event of a serious threat to public policy or internal security' as a 'last resort.'[5][6]
  • Following the announcement, Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Kahner stated that his country will not accept any further migrants that are rejected at Germany's borders.[7]
  • Germany's new border measures also come after the anti-immigration Alternative for Germany party made gains in local elections this month, with national elections set to take place next year.[8]

Sources: [1]BBC News, [2]Dw.Com, [3]Independent, [4]Euronews, [5]Migration and Home Affairs (a), [6]Migration and Home Affairs (b), [7]Reuters and [8]Le Monde.fr.

Narratives

  • Right narrative, as provided by Ft and Europeanconservative. A clampdown on immigration is a necessary response to the growing challenges posed by illegal migration. As Germany faces increasing pressure to prioritize public interest over Brussels' bureaucratic ideals and end migrant related crime and terror once and for all, these measures aim to restore order and ensure that the country's immigration system is both fair and manageable. By taking a firm stance, Germany is rightfully prioritizing its national security and social stability.
  • Left narrative, as provided by Inews.Co.Uk. Clampdowns on immigration perpetuate harmful myths about migrants and crime which are exploited by far-right extremists to push an anti-immigrant agenda, despite evidence showing that immigrants commit fewer crimes than the general population. Such measures only fuel xenophobia and divisiveness, drawing on historical fears of the 'other' to justify discrimination. Instead of addressing the root causes of crime or fostering social cohesion, this approach risks deepening societal rifts.

Predictions