Germany implements temporary border checks to limit migrants

[webfact]

Germany implements temporary border checks to limit migrants
By GEIR MOULSON and SHAWN POGATCHNIK

BERLIN (AP) — Germany introduced temporary border controls Sunday to stem the tide of thousands of refugees streaming across its frontier, sending a clear message to its European partners that it needs more help with an influx that is straining its ability to cope.

Germany is a preferred destination for many people fleeing Syria's civil war and other troubled nations in the migration crisis that has bitterly divided Europe. They have braved dangerous sea crossings in flimsy boats — another 34 drowned Sunday off Greece — and made long treks across unwelcoming countries in hopes of a better life.

More than a week ago, Germany and Austria agreed to let in migrants who had massed in Hungary, saying it was a one-time measure to ease an emergency. The flow has continued undiminished, and while Germans have remained welcoming, officials said the numbers were straining the country's ability to provide accommodations.

Berlin has become increasingly frustrated with the reluctance of many other countries in the 28-nation European Union — especially those in the former Eastern bloc — to share the burden of hosting the newcomers. Sunday's action, focusing on the Austrian border, came a day before a meeting of EU interior ministers to discuss the crisis.

"The aim of this measure is to limit the current influx to Germany and to return to orderly entry procedures," Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere told reporters. "This is also urgently necessary for security reasons."

De Maiziere added: "The great readiness to help that Germany has shown in recent weeks ... must not be overstretched."

He did not specify how long the border controls would remain in place or how exactly incoming migrants would be handled, saying only that Germany will continue to observe national and European rules on protecting refugees.

German officials didn't have further details, but in principle, border checks allow officials to turn back anyone lacking valid papers to enter.

The move, de Maiziere said, was also "a signal to Europe: Germany is facing up to its humanitarian responsibility, but the burdens connected with the large number of refugees must be distributed in solidarity within Europe."

Germany's national railway, Deutsche Bahn, said it had suspended service from Austria to Germany for 12 hours at the orders of authorities. Most new arrivals have come by train.

De Maiziere noted that Germany isn't technically responsible for most of the new arrivals, pointing to EU rules under which they are supposed to be registered and processed in the first EU country where they arrived. He urged other countries to apply those rules, and said people seeking protection cannot choose the country where they receive it.

He said Germany was reintroducing checks at its borders with an "emphasis" on the Austrian frontier. It wasn't clear whether there would be any change at other borders.

Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka said Sunday his country has boosted the police presence on the Austrian-Czech border in reaction to the German decision. The government will assess the situation on a regular basis and will take further security measures if needed.

Passport-free travel in much of the continent under the so-called Schengen agreement is considered one of the EU's signal achievements. The agreement allows countries to reintroduce controls in exceptional circumstances, as Germany did for the Group of Seven summit in June. The European Commission said the crisis "appears to be a situation covered by the rules."

Hungarian police say more than 186,000 people have passed through Hungary from Serbia this year en route to Austria and Germany. The main point of arrival in Germany has been Munich, where officials say 63,000 people have come since the end of August, including over 12,000 on Saturday.

About 450,000 migrants have entered Germany so far this year and a total of at least 800,000 are expected for all of 2015 — by far the most in the EU.

Many first come ashore in the EU on Greece's eastern islands after risky boat journeys. Scores have drowned making the crossing from Turkey.

Greece's coast guard said the 34 who died Sunday, including four infants and 11 older children, drowned when their wooden boat containing more than 130 people capsized near the island of Farmakonissi. Officials said the boat may have tipped over in part because of wind gusts exceeding 50 kph (30 mph). The crossing is often made more dangerous by smugglers who require asylum seekers to pilot the overloaded craft themselves in choppy seas.

Officials said 68 others were rescued while 30 more swam to the barely populated island. The survivors and the body of one child were taken to the nearby island of Leros. The other dead were being taken to Rhodes, which has autopsy facilities.

On Saturday, two other boats carrying asylum seekers capsized in the Aegean and at least five people — four children and a 20-year-old man — were presumed drowned.

Such risks have not deterred people from trying to reach Greece's eastern islands, where they pursue a more than 1,000-mile (1,600-kilometer) odyssey to the heart of Europe via the Balkans and Hungary.

But Hungarian authorities have vowed to fortify their southern frontier and — starting Tuesday — prosecute those who try to evade border police. Hungarian army engineers spent Sunday expanding the country's planned 174-kilometer (109-mile) border fence with Serbia and crowning it with coils of razor wire.

Police said 4,330 were detected crossing on foot in the previous 24 hours, more than 700 higher than the previous one-day record, as trekkers tried to reach Hungary before the tougher security measures take effect.
___

Pogatchnik reported from Budapest, Hungary. Associated Press writers Pablo Gorondi in Budapest and Demetris Nellas in Athens, Greece, contributed to this report.


-- (c) Associated Press 2015-09-14

[NongKhaiKid]

Wonderful plan Ankela, welcome everyone and realise too late it's going pear shaped which should have been obvious. One of your ministers is now insisting everyone should take their ' share '.

You invited them so enjoy. Better have your security forces on alert for when there's a reaction from them for not being treated as quickly and to the standard they demand.

Self Inflicted injury.

[thaibeachlovers]

The flow has continued undiminished, and while Germans have remained welcoming, officials said the numbers were straining the country's ability to provide accommodations.

They couldn't work out before that that would happen????????

Invite people in willy nilly and then say they need help to deal with the resulting chaos- priceless.

[Usernames]

Where is Merkel in all this? Hiding under a rock?

[baboon]

Wonderful plan Ankela, welcome everyone and realise too late it's going pear shaped which should have been obvious. One of your ministers is now insisting everyone should take their ' share '.

You invited them so enjoy. Better have your security forces on alert for when there's a reaction from them for not being treated as quickly and to the standard they demand.

Self Inflicted injury.

Very well put. You rolled out the red carpet, you sort it out. Or as the Americans say, "You broke it, you own it"...

[Loptr]

Well, that escalated quickly...

[teatree]

I wondered how long this irresponsible fantasy of throwing the door open to anyone who can make it to your doorstep would last.

Germany has finite resources and infrastructure. It cannot (and neither can the EU as a whole) take in every refugee in the world. There has to be a limit, and it appears that limit is being reached, the the time being at least.

[steven100]

I bet Merkel wished she hadn't opened her mouth ...

Merkel, please take the 12,000 that australia is suppose to take .....

[steven100]

I wondered how long this irresponsible fantasy of throwing the door open to anyone who can make it to your doorstep would last.

Germany has finite resources and infrastructure. It cannot (and neither can the EU as a whole) take in every refugee in the world. There has to be a limit, and it appears that limit is being reached, the the time being at least.

I just hope they have a huge money pit to cover it !!

I read last night where germans are starting to question this decision ...... they are turning and starting to become fed up with illegal immigrants.

[otherstuff1957]

How many days has it been since Merkle 'opened the doors'?

That didn't last very long!

[baboon]

I bet Merkel wished she hadn't opened her mouth ...

But she did, so tough, you deal with it and don't try and drag the rest of us into it.

(Merkel, that is.)

Edited September 14, 2015 by baboon

[meatboy]

not to worry GB will take them,then get all the pensioners to get out so that our frozen pension will help to keep them.

how the <deleted>.merkel is the chancellor?she should be kicked out to make room for 1 MORE.

[steven100]

how many refugees can you fit in a VW ?

[pedro01]

How many days has it been since Merkle 'opened the doors'?

That didn't last very long!

Agreed - this is a very swift U-Turn.

She needs to resign.

[simon43]

At times like this, Britain and Ireland must thank the gods that they are islands.

Welcoming genuine refugees is one thing. But throwing open your doors to anyone who wants to come and improve their standard of living, or to visit a decent dentist or infiltrate society with ISIS sympathizers is only asking for trouble.

[micmichd]

The issue is the Dublin II treaty which requires refugees to seek asylum in the first EU country they hit. Great advantage for Germany, they don't have any borders with the countries where refugees pass.

The Dublin II treaty should be suspended, every refugee should be entitled to claim asylum in his/her *destination* country.

[bangon04]

Wonderful plan Ankela, welcome everyone and realise too late it's going pear shaped which should have been obvious. One of your ministers is now insisting everyone should take their ' share '.

You invited them so enjoy. Better have your security forces on alert for when there's a reaction from them for not being treated as quickly and to the standard they demand.

Self Inflicted injury.

and wait until they get organised and demand the building of more mosques in downtown Munich, next to the ultra conservative catholic neighbourhoods...

Even the Turkish 3rd generation immigrants don't want them there.

[Baerboxer]

I bet Merkel wished she hadn't opened her mouth ...

But she did, so tough, you deal with it and don't try and drag the rest of us into it.

(Merkel, that is.)

She's bitten off more than she can chew. Germany's declining population makes the prospect of future labor resource look attractive. Now the volume and types arriving have hit them. How many are real refugees and how many simply illegal migrant immigrants looking to circumvent the immigration process and get in while they can?

Trouble is her way of dealing with it is likely to squeal that all the other EU countries must take their share and push for her beloved enforced quotas (she probably thinks Germany should dictate the size of each quota too).

If she has any credibility she should resign over such a cock up. But she won't. She will, with help from Juncker, try to force the problem on all of EU instead.

[micmichd]

Wonderful plan Ankela, welcome everyone and realise too late it's going pear shaped which should have been obvious. One of your ministers is now insisting everyone should take their ' share '.

You invited them so enjoy. Better have your security forces on alert for when there's a reaction from them for not being treated as quickly and to the standard they demand.

Self Inflicted injury.

and wait until they get organised and demand the building of more mosques in downtown Munich, next to the ultra conservative catholic neighbourhoods...

Even the Turkish 3rd generation immigrants don't want them there.

So, it took less than 3 generations to integrate them.

[h90]

Wonderful plan Ankela, welcome everyone and realise too late it's going pear shaped which should have been obvious. One of your ministers is now insisting everyone should take their ' share '.

You invited them so enjoy. Better have your security forces on alert for when there's a reaction from them for not being treated as quickly and to the standard they demand.

Self Inflicted injury.

Well she outsmart the Austrian Taxi-Driver Premier.....He let them all in, compared the Hungarian PM with Hitler and now he get all the migrants and will loose the next two local elections.

[h90]

Wonderful plan Ankela, welcome everyone and realise too late it's going pear shaped which should have been obvious. One of your ministers is now insisting everyone should take their ' share '.

You invited them so enjoy. Better have your security forces on alert for when there's a reaction from them for not being treated as quickly and to the standard they demand.

Self Inflicted injury.

and wait until they get organised and demand the building of more mosques in downtown Munich, next to the ultra conservative catholic neighbourhoods...

Even the Turkish 3rd generation immigrants don't want them there.

So, it took less than 3 generations to integrate them.

No 3rd Generation often speaks less German than 1st Generation.....

[h90]

I bet Merkel wished she hadn't opened her mouth ...

But she did, so tough, you deal with it and don't try and drag the rest of us into it.

(Merkel, that is.)

She's bitten off more than she can chew. Germany's declining population makes the prospect of future labor resource look attractive. Now the volume and types arriving have hit them. How many are real refugees and how many simply illegal migrant immigrants looking to circumvent the immigration process and get in while they can?

Trouble is her way of dealing with it is likely to squeal that all the other EU countries must take their share and push for her beloved enforced quotas (she probably thinks Germany should dictate the size of each quota too).

If she has any credibility she should resign over such a cock up. But she won't. She will, with help from Juncker, try to force the problem on all of EU instead.

If she would have any credibility she would have resigned when it came out that she was a Stasi spy (comrade Erika). But if looking at the other politicians in Germany, she might be still the best choice....

[micmichd]

Wonderful plan Ankela, welcome everyone and realise too late it's going pear shaped which should have been obvious. One of your ministers is now insisting everyone should take their ' share '.

You invited them so enjoy. Better have your security forces on alert for when there's a reaction from them for not being treated as quickly and to the standard they demand.

Self Inflicted injury.

and wait until they get organised and demand the building of more mosques in downtown Munich, next to the ultra conservative catholic neighbourhoods...

Even the Turkish 3rd generation immigrants don't want them there.

So, it took less than 3 generations to integrate them.

No 3rd Generation often speaks less German than 1st Generation.....

Lol, most Germans don't speak proper German.

[h90]

and wait until they get organised and demand the building of more mosques in downtown Munich, next to the ultra conservative catholic neighbourhoods...

Even the Turkish 3rd generation immigrants don't want them there.

So, it took less than 3 generations to integrate them.

No 3rd Generation often speaks less German than 1st Generation.....

Lol, most Germans don't speak proper German.

Local German dialects are an enrichment. Turkish not.

[micmichd]

and wait until they get organised and demand the building of more mosques in downtown Munich, next to the ultra conservative catholic neighbourhoods...

Even the Turkish 3rd generation immigrants don't want them there.

So, it took less than 3 generations to integrate them.

No 3rd Generation often speaks less German than 1st Generation.....

Lol, most Germans don't speak proper German.

Local German dialects are an enrichment. Turkish not.

Some German dialects are assault.

[micmichd]

Angela Merkel is good evidence that even the most stupid German can become chancellor.

[h90]

and wait until they get organised and demand the building of more mosques in downtown Munich, next to the ultra conservative catholic neighbourhoods...

Even the Turkish 3rd generation immigrants don't want them there.

So, it took less than 3 generations to integrate them.

No 3rd Generation often speaks less German than 1st Generation.....

Lol, most Germans don't speak proper German.

Local German dialects are an enrichment. Turkish not.

Some German dialects are assault.

They are harmless....travel between the mountains in West Austria + Switzerland, where the man always married their cousin for the last couple of thousand years.....

There it get strange and not only the dialect.....

[h90]

Angela Merkel is good evidence that even the most stupid German can become chancellor.

She has an University degree.....Look at the other politicians in Germany. She is by far the smartest (which isn't difficult.....)

[micmichd]

Angela Merkel is good evidence that even the most stupid German can become chancellor.

She has an University degree.....Look at the other politicians in Germany. She is by far the smartest (which isn't difficult.....)

Yes, she has a degree in physics. She should have stayed in that job.

Agree there's not many good politicians available anymore. Intelligent people got pissed by leaders like Helmut Kohl.

[Ulic]

Angela Merkel opened her arms to business and said welcome to Germany. Both Austria and Germany vilified the Hungarian government for fulfilling its EU border controls commitment. Even comparing the Hungarian government to the Nazi government of the German/Austrian past. Hungary should meet the migrants at the boarder with busses and ship them through to the Austrian boarder. Let Hungary take a "humanitarian" bow for helping the migrants along the way in an efficient and respectful manner. Merkel announced the welcome to Germany, leave it as her problem to deal with.