Merz rejects report that he seeks state of emergency over migration

Germany's new Chancellor Friedrich Merz has 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 Ministry of the Interior in Berlin 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."