In October, the Danish government prolonged the controls. Indications that they will be lifted soon are missing. The Danish Ministry of Immigration and Integration declares to be “fundamentally in favour of the free movement within Schengen” but was incapable to announce, “whether or not the internal border control will be prolonged after May 2019”. With its measures, the Ministry wants to “restore confidence in the Schengen system.”
As a result, it seems as if people are getting used to the controls again. “For me, they are totally fine”, Jana Petersen says. She is employed by H. P. Therkelsen and passes the border on her daily commute between Flensburg and Padborg. Petersen considers the controls as necessary to fight illegal immigration. Unlike her boss, Petersen doesn’t mind the checks. “I have never been stopped”, she says.
“The border controls have come to stay.”
– Kristian Thulesen Dahl, Dansk Folkeparti
Governments in Europe have incidentally returned to border controls. By labelling them “temporary” and “necessary”, they gained the approval of many. But when does the “temporary” begin to become permanent?
Political observers agree that the national election in 2019 will be crucial. “If the right-wing parties succeed, the checks will be tightened”, mayor Thomas Andresen predicts.
Kristian Thulesen Dahl, the leader of the Dansk Folkeparti, has already announced: “The border controls have come to stay.”
It would be the end of Schengen in Denmark.
borderconflicts.home.blog 