BREAKING: Germany to start border controls because of refugee crisis

[Qualle1 1,385]

UPDATE:

Germany is to introduce temporary controls on its border with Austria to cope with the influx of migrants, German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere has said.

Earlier, an Austrian rail company spokesperson said trains to Germany had stopped running.

In Munich alone, more than 13,000 migrants arrived on Saturday.

Germany's vice-chancellor said the country was "at the limit of its capabilities".

Germany expects 800,000 migrants to arrive this year.

"Germany is temporarily introducing border controls again along [the EU's] internal borders. The focus will be on the border to Austria at first," Mr de Maiziere told a news conference.

"The aim of these measures is to limit the current inflows to Germany and to return to orderly procedures when people enter the country."

Mr de Maiziere did not give details of how the border controls would work.

He called on other EU countries to "abide by the rules" which stipulate that refugees must apply for asylum in the country where they first arrive, saying that refugees could "not choose" their host countries in the EU.

Many migrants have been refusing to register in countries such as Greece or Hungary, fearing it will stop them being granted asylum in Germany or other EU states.

Last month, Mr de Maiziere said the Schengen agreement - which allows free movement between a large number of European countries - could be suspended.

Kronen Zeitung said that Bavarian police will begin to carry out checks "to determine immediately who is entitled to asylum", but it is not clear how such checks would be made.

What are the current border rules?

The European Union's Schengen zone, implemented in 1985, allows passport-free movement between member countries

26 European countries participate, but not the UK or the Irish Republic

Schengen signatories can re-impose border controls for short period for "public policy or national security" reasons after consulting "contracting parties".

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Germany is to reintroduce some form of controls on its border with Austria to cope with the influx of migrants, German and Austrian media report.

It is not clear what measures would be introduced.

More than 13,000 migrants arrived into Munich alone on Saturday. Germany's vice-chancellor said the country was "at the limit of its capabilities".

Germany's Bild newspaper and Austria's Kronen Zeitung said controls would be in place on the Bavaria-Austria border.

Germany expects 800,000 migrants to arrive this year.

Influx

Der Spiegel reported (in German) that the German Interior Minister, Thomas de Maiziere, would make an announcement in the coming hours.

Last month, Mr de Maiziere said the Schengen agreement, which allows free movement between a large number of European countries, could be suspended.

Kronen Zeitung said that Bavarian police will begin to carry out checks "to determine immediately who is entitled to asylum", but it is not clear how such checks would be made.

Europe as a whole is struggling to deal with an enormous influx of people, mostly from Syria but also Afghanistan, Eritrea and other countries, fleeing violence and poverty.

Earlier on Sunday, Germany's Vice-Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel, who is also economy minister, warned the country was being stretched to its limits by the new arrivals.

"Europe's inability to deal with the migrant crisis has brought even Germany to the limit of its capabilities," he told Der Tagesspiegel newspaper.

"It is not just a question of the number of migrants but also the speed at which they are arriving that makes the situation so difficult to handle."

Source in English:

http://www.bbc.com

Source in German:

http://www.spiegel.de

[barcodemonster 3,525]

WHY IS MY AMERICAN MEDIA NOT REPORTING THIS. I bet 7/10 Americans don't even realize this is happening!!

[Qualle1 1,385]

WHY IS MY AMERICAN MEDIA NOT REPORTING THIS. I bet 7/10 Americans don't even realize this is happening!!

This is really "breaking news"! The Government will inform the German public in ca. 30 minutes.

[barcodemonster 3,525]

This is really "breaking news"! The Government will inform the German public in ca. 30 minutes.

the whole crisis in general though! I just asked my mom she didn't know about it. Why is my media not doing their job?!

[Qualle1 1,385]

the whole crisis in general though! I just asked my mom she didn't know about it. Why is my media not doing their job?!

The refugee crisis is with the ongoing crisis between Ukraine and Russia the biggest challenge for Europe since the end of WWII.

It's sad, that the refugee crisis doesn't get more media attention in the USA.

[Ayesha Erotica 1,924]

 Why is my media not doing their job?!

Why don't you read British Media? They are in English, too, you'll understand them and they deliver you news about Europe first.

 

This is breaking news, first appeared in German media, then borrowed by British media. American media will probably follow and borrow British media.

 

I read Swiss, Austrian, German, Liechtensteinian, Italian, British and other international media. Sticking to one media is boring and only limiting your horizons.

[Bette Davis 12,742]

I really admire Germany for having such open arms to people in need 

 

I don't understand why the US isn't doing more to help. We have only taken in 1,800 and may at the most accept 10,000 more 

[Fusel 1,111]

They also said that the amount isn't necessarily the problem but how FAST they're arriving. The other European countries really need to act, Germany & the few other countries that accept a decent amount of refugees can't do this on their own in the long run. We need a little humanity

[Morphine Prince 109,654]

the whole crisis in general though! I just asked my mom she didn't know about it. Why is my media not doing their job?!

They talk about this on CNN regularly and if you look at other American news sites you will see they also talk about it. They will obviously not BOMBARD us with the refugee crisis because it isn't affecting this country DIRECTLY as it is in Europe. 

[Morphine Prince 109,654]

The idiots are already on this  

"Merkel has finally realized Hungary was right in not letting these Muslims into a Christian nation!"  

 

[Qualle1 1,385]

Since 5:00 PM is the train service suspended between Austria and Germany.

http://m.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/a-1052722.html

[Qualle1 1,385]

I just updated the original post with more information after the press conference did happen.

[Qualle1 1,385]

The idiots are already on this  

"Merkel has finally realized Hungary was right in not letting these Muslims into a Christian nation!"  

 

Just to be clear here: Of course Germany will also be pro-asyl in the future - but right now, in this current "state of emergency" we can not handle everything!

All of the other European countries have to be supportive now to solve this huge refugee crisis together.

[Alii 2,039]

I expected this to happen. 

[Qualle1 1,385]

I expected this to happen. 

Me too.