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Transcript/ScriptGermany Borders (TV)
HEADLINE: Germany implements border checks as migration debate stirs election tensions
TEASER: German official proposes sending migrants to Rwanda for processing, using facilities from failed British deal
PUBLISHED AT: 09/16/2024 at 5:27 pm
BYLINE: Henry Ridgwell
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: London
VIDEOGRAPHER: Henry Ridgwell
VIDEO EDITOR:
SCRIPT EDITORS: Baragona, Bill Ide
VIDEO SOURCE (S): Zoom, VOA, Reuters, AFP, APTN
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB _X_ TV _X_ RADIO __
TRT: 2:25
VID APPROVED BY: mia
TYPE: TVR
EDITOR NOTES:))
((INTRO)) [[Germany began implementing checks on all its land borders Monday as the government tries to crack down on irregular migration. As Henry Ridgwell reports, many of Germany’s neighbors have criticized the plan, which they say undermines the core European Union principle of freedom of movement.]]
((VIDEO: AGENCY FOOTAGE OF BORDER CHECKS, ARREST))
((NARRATOR))
German police and border guards began making spot checks on people arriving across all the country’s land borders Monday. Authorities say they are targeting suspected illegal migrants.
((FOR RADIO: German police spokesperson, Dieter Hutt.))
((Dieter Hutt, German Federal Police Spokesperson (in German) ))
“We want to keep the inconvenience for commuters and the transfer of goods to a minimum.”
((VIDEO: AGENCY FOOTAGE OF BORDER CHECKS))
((NARRATOR))
Germany is part of Europe’s passport-free Schengen zone. Its members can introduce border checks if there is a serious threat to public policy or internal security. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said the move was necessary.
((Olaf Scholz, German Chancellor (in German) ))
“The number of those (migrants) who come to Germany irregularly is too large.”
((VIDEO: VOA FOOTAGE OF MIGRANTS IN 2015, UKRAINIAN REFUGEES))
((NARRATOR))
Germany took in more than a million migrants in 2015 in the wake of the Arab Spring. ((https://www.bamf.de/SharedDocs/Anlagen/EN/Forschung/Migrationsberichte/migrationsbericht-2015-zentrale-ergebnisse.pdf?__blob=publicationFile&v=13 )) It is also hosting more than a million Ukrainian refugees. ((https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?title=Temporary_protection_for_persons_fleeing_Ukraine_-_monthly_statistics#Where_in_the_EU_did_people_fleeing_Ukraine_go.3F ))
((VIDEO: AGENCY FOOTAGE OF AFD SUPPORTERS))
The influx prompted a backlash from some voters – who have turned to the far-right Alternative for Germany party – which scored a shock victory in recent regional elections.
((VIDEO: AGENCY FOOTAGE OF TUSK))
Many of Germany’s neighbors have reacted with anger to the border checks.
((FOR RADIO: …including Polish Prime Minister, Donald Tusk.))
((Donald Tusk, Polish Prime Minister (in Polish) ))
“I have no doubt that it is the internal, political situation in Germany that is causing these steps to be implemented, and not our policy towards illegal immigration on our borders.”
((NARRATOR))
The border checks could undermine European unity in the long term, says analyst Raphael Bossong.
((Raphael Bossong, German Institute for International and Security Affairs (in English))
((cf. Zoom logo))
“It could aggravate a trend of mutual recriminations, the rise of hard right and seriously Eurosceptic countries, and we don’t know where we end up with this kind of trend.”
((VIDEO: AGENCY FOOTAGE OF GERMAN DEPORTATION FLIGHT))
((NARRATOR))
Germany is also stepping up the return of failed asylum-seekers. Will the crackdown impact immigration?
((FOR RADIO: It’s a complex issue, says Bossong.))
((Raphael Bossong, German Institute for International and Security Affairs (in English))
((cf. Zoom logo))
“We're not dealing with parcels or containers. We're dealing with people. And we're also dealing with a lot of different drivers of irregular migration. Yes, some may be susceptible to different incentives or different controls, others may be less so, looking at various wars and conflict in our European neighborhood. And these are not under our control.”
((VIDEO: AGENCY FOOTAGE OF RWANDA MIGRANT HOUSING, BRITISH DEAL))
((NARRATOR))
Meanwhile, a government official recently said that Germany could seek to strike a deal with Rwanda to send asylum-seekers there for processing.
Britain abandoned a similar plan in July.
((Henry Ridgwell, VOA News.))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
Subtitles / Dubbing AvailableNo
NetworkVOA
Embargo DateSeptember 16, 2024 18:59 EDT
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
