Merkel Warns EU Risks "Destruction" Over Tougher National Migration Policies

 Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel has issued a stark warning that tightening national migration and border control measures could threaten the very fabric of the European Union. Her remarks come in response to Berlin's recent policy shift aimed at curbing the influx of asylum seekers.

Speaking at the Southwestern Press Forum in Neu-Ulm last week during a presentation of her memoir Freedom, Merkel expressed concern over Germany’s new border enforcement policies under Chancellor Friedrich Merz's administration.

“I do not believe we can decisively combat illegal migration at the German-Austrian or German-Polish border… I have always advocated European solutions,” Merkel stated, underscoring her long-standing belief that migration policy should be coordinated at the EU level.

Earlier this month, Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt introduced sweeping restrictions that prohibit asylum applications at all German land borders. The move marks a significant departure from Merkel’s 2015 open-door policy, which permitted over a million migrants into Germany during the peak of the refugee crisis. Limited exceptions remain for vulnerable individuals, including children and pregnant women.

Merkel cautioned that unilateral actions risk undermining the EU’s principles of freedom of movement and jeopardizing the Schengen Agreement, which allows passport-free travel across much of the bloc.

“Otherwise, we could see Europe destroyed,” she warned.

Germany continues to be the leading destination for asylum seekers within the EU, recording over 237,000 applications in 2023—accounting for roughly one-quarter of the bloc's total, according to EU statistics.

Chancellor Merz had pledged tougher immigration controls during his campaign leading up to February’s snap elections, amid surging support for the right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. Although the AfD secured 20.8% of the vote, it was excluded from coalition negotiations by mainstream parties.

In a controversial development earlier this month, Germany’s Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) designated the AfD as a “confirmed extremist entity.” While the classification has since been suspended amid legal challenges and public criticism, elements within the ruling coalition continue to explore legal avenues to ban the party.

Meanwhile, German law enforcement agencies have raised operational concerns. Despite the deployment of an additional 3,000 officers to assist the 11,000 already stationed at key crossings, police officials have warned that the current measures may only be sustainable “for a few more weeks” due to mounting pressure on personnel.

Merkel’s comments underline the enduring tensions between national sovereignty and EU-wide cooperation in managing migration, as Germany and its European partners navigate increasingly polarized political landscapes.