Only seven more days to the men’s European Football Championship: Starting today, border checks may be carried out at all German borders
press release
07 June 2024
The Federal Police can start temporary border control / travellers should have their travel documents with them
Starting today, the Federal Police can carry out border checks at all German borders. Federal Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser ordered the temporary reintroduction of border control at internal borders as part of the increased security measures for the 2024 men’s European Football Championship in Germany. These checks will also be conducted at the borders with Denmark, France and the Benelux countries, where no border control was previously in place. Travellers entering Germany from other Schengen countries may have to undergo checks also when arriving by air or sea. These border checks will be conducted flexibly and as the situation requires.
Federal Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser said: “We are very excited about hosting the European Football Championship in Germany. Security has the highest priority. Our security authorities are doing their utmost to protect the tournament against all possible threats. We are focusing on threats ranging from Islamist terrorism to hooligans and other violent offenders, to cyber attacks. The Federal Police will protect Germany’s borders, airports and railways. Starting today, the Federal Police can carry out border checks at all of Germany’s borders. This will help us detect violent offenders and keep them from entering the country. I am very grateful to the Federal Police for all of their efforts. Our flexible, temporary border control will have as little impact as possible on cross-border travel and commuters. We will concentrate on the border checks needed to ensure security.”
The temporary border control at Germany’s borders is part of the comprehensive security measures taken by the federal and state police forces to prevent possible threats coming from outside the country. The border checks are particularly intended to detect and stop any violent offenders from entering Germany. Temporary border control is an effective way to achieve this.
The EU has been notified of the temporary border control at all of Germany’s Schengen borders, to remain in effect until 19 July 2024. The border checks will be based in particular on border policing experience and information about the current situation. They will be carried out as required by the situation and flexibly in terms of time and place. They will be limited to the extent needed to provide security. The impact on cross-border travel will not exceed the minimum necessary to ensure security. All travellers are requested to have valid travel documents with them when crossing the border.
Further information about security for the European Football Championship:
- Germany’s security authorities began preparing their security strategies as soon as Germany was chosen to host the tournament. Major international events like UEFA EURO 2024 are accompanied by numerous potential threats. These include general crime such as pick-pocketing, as well as violent crime, cyber attacks, disinformation and extremist and terrorist threats.
- A National Security Strategy outlines the security measures taken by the government and the tournament organisers before and during the tournament. In addition, the security authorities are working closely with Germany’s neighbouring countries, with the countries participating in the tournament, and with possible transit countries. During the tournament, some 580 police officers from other countries will also be working in Germany, within the International Police Cooperation Center (see below), in joint patrols in the host cities, and with the Federal Police in its area of responsibility, in particular railway policing.
- The International Police Cooperation Center (IPCC)in Neuss (North Rhine-Westphalia) serves as the heart of the national and international security efforts. This is where the relevant information is compiled and the operations involving police officers from all over Europe are coordinated.
- In addition to the police, thousands of rescue and emergency workers will also be on hand. They are preparing for a variety of scenarios, such as heat waves, torrential rains and other weather events, as well as for joint operations in case of all conceivable large-scale emergencies. At the federal level, both the Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance (BBK) and the Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW) are reliable partners for police and non-police emergency response during EURO 2024.
For more information (in German):
Originally published at https://www.bmi.bund.de/SharedDocs/pressemitteilungen/EN/2024/06/bgk-euro-en.html;jsessionid=7E926B3D71E47D06A6C84E3057A77E66.live872
