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France tightens border controls: Macron calls for Schengen reform
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How a cartoon controversy relates to the recent attacks
The attack in Vienna is the latest in a series of attacks in recent weeks. In the background there is a conflict over the Muhammad cartoons and the resulting dispute between France and Turkey.
After the attacks in Nice and Vienna, France doubled its border guards and tightened entry controls. President Macron also wants to fundamentally review the Schengen Agreement. The mayor of Nice calls for the suspension.
FAfter several attacks in recent weeks, France wants to tighten controls at its borders. “In view of the change in the threat situation … we have decided to significantly strengthen our border controls within the Schengen area,” French President Emmanuel Macron said Thursday in Le Perthus, on the border with Spain. Forces at the borders will be increased from 2,400 to 4,800 police officers, gendarmes and military personnel.
In recent months, Macron had kept all internal borders of EU partner countries open even during the Corona crisis. But due to the growing discontent among the French population with the previous means of fighting terrorism, it is now deviating from its position. “The recent terrorist attacks require Europe to intensify its fight,” Macron said. “The Schengen area must be restored”, especially with a view to protecting Europe’s external borders. There should be a real security police there.
He also noted that more and more rejected asylum seekers from other EU countries are moving to France, according to information from WELT, there are many Afghans from Bavaria and other federal states where rejected asylum seekers receive only a few benefits from integration. Macron also criticized Spain for allowing the entry of too many North African migrants, whose final destination was France.
“The attacks that France suffered (the attack) that Austria experienced a few days ago in Vienna show us that there is a danger of terrorism everywhere, that there are globalized networks (…)”, Macron continued. “This requires Europe to intensify its response. France is doing this by doubling its existing forces. ” Macron said he would make appropriate proposals in December.
Macron had already called for a review of the Schengen area in an appeal before the 2019 European elections. At that time he put into play a joint border police and a European asylum authority and strict control conditions. France has strengthened its border controls since the 2015 terrorist attacks.
The killer is said to have entered via Lampedusa.
A week ago, according to investigators, a 21-year-old Tunisian brutally murdered three people in a church in Nice. It is said that it came to Europe through the Italian island of Lampedusa. The Mayor of Nice, Christian Estrosi, called for a “suspension of the Schengen Agreement for a certain period of time.” Nice had become a target “because of its proximity to the border” with Italy, he told the “Nice-Matin” daily.
There had previously been two other attacks in France. Here, too, the researchers assume an Islamist motive.
The head of protection of the German constitution, Thomas Haldenwang, previously warned against copycats after Islamist terror attacks in recent weeks.
