Germany extends border controls
October 13, 2015
A spokesperson for the German Interior Ministry confirmed on Tuesday that it had sent a letter to the European Union indicating Germany's decision to keep border controls in place until the end of October.
"The situation on the border is such that we can't do without these measures," the spokesperson told the AFP news agency.
Border checks on the German-Austrian border have been in place since September 13. As part of the Schengen zone, Germany normally does not have checkpoints along its borders, but EU law allows these to be temporarily implemented under certain circumstances.
This is the second extension of Germany's border controls since they were set up last month on the Austrian frontier, where many refugees have entered the country.
Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere notified the EU that the controls would remain due to the "immense and nearly unbroken stream of third-country nationals."
Angela Merkel's Christian Democratic Union (CDU) is also considering setting up transit zones at the border as further filter. Refugees who have little chance of staying in Germany - those deemed economic migrants rather than war refugees - could be denied entry right at the border.
mz/bk (dpa, AFP)