Germany to Intensify Border Checks During Euro 2024
Starting this Friday, German police may conduct temporary checks at all German borders as part of the Euro 2024 football tournament. This was reported by the German Ministry of the Interior. According to Interior Minister Nancy Faeser, this measure is necessary to ensure the best possible protection of the football tournament, which will take place in ten German cities.
‘Our focus ranges from the threat of Islamist terrorism to hooliganism and cyber attacks,’ Faeser said in a statement.
She clarified that the aim of the checks would be to stop violent offenders by detecting them early.
‘The Federal Police will be guarding Germany's borders, airports and railway traffic,’ said Faeser.
About 580 police officers from other countries will join German law enforcement agencies to patrol in host cities, train stations and trains.
The Interior Ministry said that additional controls will be set up at the borders with Denmark, France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg.
All five countries are EU members within the Schengen area, meaning there is no regular border control between the countries and police conduct only random checks.
According to the ministry, the checks will be ‘flexible and temporary’.
Euro 2024 starts on 14 June, with the final match scheduled for 14 July.
Enhanced temporary border checks will be in place until 19 July.