German police step up border checks under new immigration crackdown

German police on Thursday stepped up border checks, as Chancellor Friedrich Merz's new administration sought to project a tough line on irregular immigration - prompting concerns from Germany's neighbours.

A spokesman for the federal police in the southern state of Bavaria said more checks are being carried out on the borders to Austria and the Czech Republic.

"We are ensuring that the disruption is as minimal as possible," the spokesman told dpa. "But we are carrying out more checks and that will be noticeable for travellers."

Police are reopening checkpoints on smaller routes such as over the Saalach river between Austria's Salzburg and the German town of Freilassing.

Possible conflict with EU law

Austria on Thursday called on Germany to respect EU border law, echoing other neighbours of Germany that have voiced concern over the increased border checks and possible plans to turn away asylum seekers, a policy which critics have argued contravenes EU law.

While Vienna has outlined its support for a tighter line on immigration, it has warned the new administration - which took office on Wednesday in Berlin - against breaching EU laws.

"Austria generally welcomes Germany's endeavours in the fight against the smuggling mafia and illegal migration," the Austrian Interior Ministry said on Thursday. "We assume that German authorities will adhere to the European legal order in all measures that are taken."

Merz not declaring national emergency

The stepped up checks - and the subsequent criticism - came as Merz rejected reports that he will declare a "national emergency" to ensure permanent checks at Germany's borders.

"The chancellor will not declare a national emergency," a government spokesperson told dpa on Thursday.

The new government wants to activate Article 72 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, the German daily Die Welt reported. The ambassadors of Germany's neighbouring countries would be informed of this at the Federal Ministry of the Interior.

This article essentially preserves national sovereignty in matters of law enforcement and security.

Article 72 contains a so-called emergency clause. According to this, exceptions to the ban on rejections at the borders are possible if public order or national security is threatened.

The Interior Ministry confirmed on X that the ambassadors of neighbouring countries had been invited. However, this was done to inform them about the measures previously decided upon to intensify existing internal border controls.

The X-post went on to say: "At this meeting, it was mutually emphasized that we will continue to work closely together in a spirit of partnership."

Asylum numbers down in April

The measures come two days after Merz's conservative-led government took office, pledging to maintain temporary border checks implemented under previous administrations and turn back illegal migrants at the border, even if they apply for asylum.

The policies, which Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt put in force on Wednesday, have already attracted controversy from Germany's neighbours, with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk expressing his displeasure at a press conference with Merz.

The Swiss Justice Ministry also slammed the measures in a post on X.

"In Switzerland's view, systematic rejections at the border violate applicable law," the ministry said, adding that the Swiss government is considering countermeasures.

A spokesman for the police said on Thursday that it was unclear whether any asylum seekers have already been turned away under the new policy.

Increased checks have also been announced on Germany's borders with the Netherlands and Belgium.

A dpa reporter in the western German state of North Rhine-Westphalia said there was little evidence of tighter controls.

However, a police spokesman said: "If you don't see us, that's good, because then the people we want to control won't see us either."

Fewer asylum seekers in April

The tighter controls comes as the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees reported on Thursday that there were 9,108 first-time asylum applications last month, down from 17,500 in April 2024.

However, the figure was a 1.4% increase from March.

The most applications were submitted by people from Afghanistan (2,191), followed by Syria and Turkey.

Over the first four months of the year, the agency has received 45,681 applications for asylum, a steep drop compared to the 84,984 in the same period of 2024.