The German government ordered spot passport controls at all its land borders from Monday morning, going against the EU's free movement principle.
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00:00German border police are carrying out spot passport checks on all of its land borders
00:05from Monday morning.
00:06Queues at borders, particularly in the north and west of Germany, are expected, with transport
00:11companies and border commuters preparing for waiting times.
00:16Migration expert Svenja Niederfranke explains why this is happening.
00:20In the current political climate, the German government wants to show that they are doing
00:24something.
00:25And with the upcoming elections and the past elections, this is very important political
00:29signalling of course.
00:31And it signals we take back control of our borders.
00:38Research has shown usually with these border checks, it's usually not the big fish, it's
00:43the smaller fish that will get caught.
00:45And not every single smuggler will get caught either because obviously they know where the
00:49border checks are and they will find different ways to do it.
00:53The German government is hoping that these checks will lead to those who have been banned
00:57from entering Germany being turned away at the borders.
01:00And what about the public's perception of these extended controls?
01:03We asked people in Berlin.
01:05I don't think there will be a lot of new border checks.
01:08I think through Schengen, Europe has gained a lot.
01:11I still know Europe from the time when there was a border in every country and I enjoy
01:19that it is the way it is at the moment.
01:22And I think the problem is not the migration, but rather the integration in Germany.
01:28I am irritated and I believe that it is a decision towards populism and populist politics.
01:38No, I don't think it will change anything because there will still be a lot of workers
01:43lacking in a lot of industries and the sentiments are probably like the rejection of immigrants
01:53is probably deeper rooted, if I may say, in the socio-economic context and other things.
02:00I don't think it will bring anything.
02:06With police and authorities carrying out these checks from Monday morning, experts and a
02:11police union are warning that they need thousands more personnel to carry out these controls.
02:16However, with the federal budget already so stretched, it seems unlikely that these positions
02:22will be created.
02:24Liv Stroud in Berlin for Euronews.