Border Controls Return in France Over Security and Migration Concerns

Last updated on November 5th, 2024 at 06:34 am

For six months starting in November, France will temporarily restore border restrictions with its near neighbours. Marking it as one of the most significant returns to border controls since the establishment of the Schengen area thirty years ago. The administration cites illegal migration and security issues as the reasons for the move.

Concerns over irregular migration and terrorism risks led France to decide to reimpose border controls with its six Schengen neighbours, which will remain in place until at least April 30.

Notice of France’s Reintroduction of Border Controls to the Commission stated, “serious threats to public policy, public order, and internal security posed by high-level terrorist activities, the growing presence of criminal networks facilitating irregular migration and smuggling, and migration flows that risk infiltration by radicalised individuals, as well as the irregular crossings on the Channel and North Sea borders, along with rising violence among migrants.”

This approach has worked before according to French Prime Minister Michel Barnier who announced the return of border inspections. 

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He stated, “The French people expect an effective policy for controlling immigration. The Government has just notified the European Commission of the extension of internal border controls, in place since 2015. At the Italian border, the border force has been tested. It is a model that has proven effective. We will generalise it across all land borders of France.

Many people who have become used to unrestricted movement within the so-called Schengen Zone of the European Union seemed taken by surprise by the decision.

The practical implications of restoring police checks are also being questioned by raising the possibility of checkpoint delays and a backlog of cross-border travellers.

Since the Schengen Zone was established in 1995, France has reinstated border controls on a number of occasions but these actions have usually only applied to certain routes. The decision to implement them across all of its borders is the most extensive control exercise till date.

The move by France is similar to what Germany did earlier this year to strengthen border security. On September 16th the government of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz declared that temporary controls on all land borders would be reinstated citing a need to combat illegal migration.