France will temporarily control all land borders from November 1, a measure that Prime Minister Michel Barnier says is necessary due to growing security concerns.
The border controls will remain in place until April next year, and will apply to the borders with Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, Italy and Spain. The decision comes amid rising tensions over migration and fears of new attacks, Barnier said. The French government said the controls were prompted by the need to stop undocumented migrants, particularly those attempting to travel to the UK via France.
Migrants often try to cross the Channel, which poses major challenges for French authorities. The border with Italy has long been controlled in collaboration with the Italian authorities, and according to Barnier, these checks have proven to be effective. “The measure has proven itself. We are now going to introduce these checks at all our national borders,” the prime minister said.
right policy
France correspondent for NOS Frank Renout explains that this measure does not come unexpectedly. The new right-wing government of Prime Minister Barnier is following the line of Germany, which introduced border controls in September to limit migration flows. Barnier, who explained the new measures during a visit to the Italian border, stated that "the French borders must be better guarded." One of the main priorities of his government is limiting migration, a subject that is very much alive in French politics.
Although the decision to introduce border controls is not only based on political convictions, the internal distribution of power within the French government also plays a major role. Barnier's government does not have an absolute majority in parliament. In order to govern effectively, Barnier is dependent on the tolerating support of Marine Le Pen's radical right-wing party. Border controls have long been a key priority for Le Pen, and by implementing this measure, Barnier seems to be meeting the wishes of this party.
“The question now is mainly how these checks will be carried out,” says Renout. “France has six large neighbouring countries on the mainland, with thousands of kilometres of borders. It is still unclear whether these borders will be monitored systematically and everywhere, or whether there will be random checks.”
The countries where France will introduce border controls are all members of the Schengen area. Within this area, there is normally free movement of people and goods, but the Schengen rules allow countries to introduce temporary border controls in case of emergency. France already made use of this possibility this summer because of the increased threat surrounding the Olympic Games in Paris, which will take place in 2024. At that time, controls were stepped up to prevent possible terrorist attacks.
France is not the only European country to have introduced additional border controls. Since September, Germany has been passport controls in an attempt to reduce the number of people entering the country without a valid visa. The measure will remain in place until at least the spring, and the German government has said it will be monitoring the situation closely.
increasing concerns
France’s move is part of a broader trend in Europe, where countries are increasingly resorting to border controls in response to ongoing migration challenges and the threat of terrorism. The temporary reintroduction of border controls by Schengen member states has become more common since the 2015 migration crisis, and while it is a temporary measure, the issue of open borders in Europe appears to be under increasing pressure.
“The French government sees these checks as necessary to ensure security, but it also raises questions about the future of the Schengen area,” Renout said. “Particularly within the European Union, where the free movement of people is one of the most important achievements, such measures could lead to tensions between member states.”
It is clear that border controls are part of a broader discussion on security and migration in Europe. For now, it remains to be seen how the measures will be implemented in practice and what effects this will have on both migration flows and diplomatic relations within Europe.
