Germany wants to preserve the Schengen zone, which allows free movement between its member states, but it can only function if it is not abused by criminals involved in migrant smuggling, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said today, quoted by Reuters, BTA reports.
“Of course we want to preserve the Schengen zone, but freedom of movement within it can only function in the long term if it is not abused by those who support illegal migration, in particular through migrant smuggling“, the chancellor said at a press conference with his Luxembourg counterpart.
Merz added that Germany is working closely with Poland on border controls in an attempt to solve the problem of illegal migration.
“There is very close, very collegial and friendly cooperation between the heads of government, in particular between (Polish Prime Minister) Donald Tusk and me, as well as between the interior ministers, because we want to solve the common problem together“, Merz said.
He also said that Germany should continue to benefit from the American nuclear shield in the coming years, but was open to talks about a possible pan-European defense system in the medium and long term.
“This is a task that arises in the very long term, because there are a large number of questions that need to be clarified and that go far beyond the time frame in which we need to improve Europe's defense capabilities with the existing structures,“, Merz noted.