Juncker: border controls must not become normal condition

Former EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker warns the EU countries of the reintroduction of permanent border controls. « You must not become a new normal condition, » says Juncker of the German Press Agency. In 10 out of 27 EU countries, controls would currently take place again at the limits.

In these countries there is no message to the citizens that the border controls are only temporary. « In Germany, too, one hears again and again that this should be permanent border controls, which is not in line with the impetus of the Schengen contracts, » said Juncker.

However, he assumes that Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) will « pull the brakes in good time as a staunch European before the current condition changes into a permanent condition ». Especially on the border with Luxembourg that crossed tens of thousands of commuters every day, the controls would be perceived as « particularly painful ».

Festive mood for 40 years of Schengen « clouded »

On June 14th, the 40th anniversary of the signing of the Schengen Convention will be celebrated in the Luxembourg Moselle town of Schengen. On June 14, 1985, Germany, France, Luxembourg, Belgium and the Netherlands agreed to gradually reduce border controls. Today, 29 countries with almost 420 million inhabitants are part of the Schengen area.

40 years of Schengen: That is a reason to celebrate, said Juncker. « For me, Schengen is the completion of the European dream that the EU citizens can easily exceed the limits. » The border controls introduced again « cloud the festive atmosphere to a very significant degree, » said the Luxembourg.

He hoped that the memory ceremony in Schengen will also go out of the memory ceremony in Schengen: « That you can’t go on like this! He was « with a laughing and a crying eye » at the celebration.

Juncker: Germany has a special role

However, it is clear that a pan-European discussion of the EU heads of state and government, how to deal with the refugee question will soon be needed. The EU’s external borders would have to be better protected.

Germany had reintroduced border controls at all German external borders in mid -September 2024 and justified this with the fight against illegal migration. In May the controls with the new federal government were reinforced.

If Germany turns the Schengen logic into a permanent state, others who are less European than Merz, would do that too, said Juncker. « And that’s why Germany has to consider its special and exemplary role in Europe. »

Juncker said that he was concerned that Europe is about « a clear European policy discourse ». The populists continue “their march through the national institutions”, the latest presidential election in Poland shows in this direction. The right -wing conservative Karol Nawrocki had narrowly won there.

In addition, Juncker – even with concern – observes that in the classic European political parties in the middle the number of « who speak to the populists for their mouths ». He would like more people to find a clear European discourse again, said Juncker.