The Netherlands has introduced temporary border controls with Germany and Belgium to curb illegal migration. This initiative, based on Article 25 of the Schengen Borders Code, involves police checks on vehicles using risk analysis. Despite the scale of operations, only 50 officers are assigned to monitor 840 border crossings. Nearly 50 municipalities have raised concerns about these additional controls. However, the number of asylum seekers remains steady at approximately 40,000 annually.
The measures are part of a six-month initiative proposed by a right-wing coalition led by Geert Wilders' PVV. The controls focus on regions and airports prone to irregular migration or cross-border crime. While local mayors fear the inconvenience, the Royal Marechaussee views these concerns as unfounded. The Marechaussee has traditionally conducted spot checks, but now the duration at checkpoints is extended.
Despite the protests, the Dutch Minister of Migration and Asylum, Marjolein Faber, defends the necessity of these measures, emphasizing their potential impact on illegal migration and associated challenges. The right-wing government aims to manage accommodation shortages and public safety concerns through these enhanced border controls.
