Germany Vows to Uphold Schengen Borders Amid Asylum Policy Clash

Germany Stands Firm on Schengen Border Controls

Germany's government has pledged to reinforce its legal arguments for border rejections of asylum seekers after a Berlin court blocked the policy. Chancellor's Office Chief Thorsten Frei (CDU) acknowledged the preliminary ruling but vowed to pursue broader judicial clarification if needed, insisting the country's "migration turnaround" will proceed within legal bounds.

Court Ruling Sparks Legal Reevaluation

Frei described the administrative court's emergency decision as unsurprising given the complex legal landscape. "We'll examine the verdict closely and potentially submit more robust justifications," he stated, emphasizing full compliance with judicial requirements while preparing for potential appeals.

Key developments:

• Berlin court halted border rejections in interim ruling
• Government may escalate case to higher court
• Frei insists all decisions will respect rule of law

Schengen Border Controls: A Temporary Necessity

The minister defended Germany's reintroduction of internal Schengen checks as an unfortunate but vital measure. "We take no joy in controlling borders," Frei admitted, "but Europe's external protections remain insufficient." The controls will persist until the EU establishes reliable external border security.

Critical context:

1. Controls implemented due to migration pressure
2. Part of broader EU asylum reform efforts
3. Germany pushing for stronger external borders

The European Dimension

While advocating for restored Schengen freedom of movement, Frei cautioned that national migration rules might still be necessary even after EU reforms. "Migration challenges demand European-scale solutions," he concluded, underscoring Germany's commitment to multilateral cooperation.