The Danish Government prolongs the temporary border controls

The controls at the Danish-German border will temporarily be prolonged by 20 days until 3 February 2016. The assessment is that there is still a risk that a large number of illegal immigrants could strand in Denmark.

The temporary border controls were introduced against the background of, among other things, the Swedish decision to introduce ID control. The pressure on the external borders of the EU and the number of migrants and refugees travelling north remain massive. Furthermore, Sweden has prolonged the border controls with Denmark, and Swedish ID control remains in force. Against this background, it is still the assessment that without border controls at the Danish-German border there is a serious risk that a very large number of illegal immigrants could strand in Denmark when denied entry into Sweden.

Minister for Immigration, Integration and Housing Inger Støjberg says:

“The Government has monitored the situation closely and on this basis we have decided to prolong the border controls with Germany. We do not take this step lightly as both the Swedish and Danish border controls impede the freedom of movement, which we together have worked towards for many years in Europe. But the Government must respond to this altogether extraordinary situation and we are doing what we find necessary in order to ensure public policy and internal security in Denmark.”

The situation at the borders will be monitored continuously, and it will be possible to intensify the spot-check control on a needs basis. The Government has not made a decision on whether to prolong the temporary border controls after the 20 days. However, under the Schengen rules, border controls may be prolonged further provided that the assessment is that a serious threat to public policy or internal security continues to exist.

Today, the Danish Government has briefed its neighbouring countries as well as the European Commission on the prolongation of the border controls.

See the letter to the European Commission (PDF) (new window)

Facts

Temporary border controls were introduced on 4 January 2016 at 12 hours and will now be prolonged until 3 February.

It follows from the Schengen Borders Code that if there is a serious threat to public policy or internal security, a Member State may exceptionally and immediately reintroduce border controls at its internal borders. The risk of a considerable number of people stranding in the Copenhagen area without a legal right to stay there may, consequently, constitute the basis for the introduction of temporary border controls in Denmark.

Further information

Head of Press and Communications Mia Tang, phone: +45 61 98 35 10, 

Press and Communications Adviser Sarah Andersen, phone: +45 61 98 33 92, 

Press and Communications Adviser Pernille Rølle, phone: +45 61 98 32 83,