Germany is planning to introduce temporary border controls during the Euro 2024 to ensure national security.
Announcing the country’s plans, the German Federal Minister of Interior, Nancy Faeser, said that the authorities are discussing the possibility of placing temporary border controls before the tournament, SchengenVisaInfo reports.
Minister Faeser further noted that the main purpose of introducing the measure is to make sure that “dangerous people” are prevented from entering the country.
However, she did not mention if travellers should expect longer waiting times at the border.
We are considering the implementation of temporary border controls at the internal borders during the tournament in order to be able to prevent potential violent offenders from entering.
Euro 2024 will take place from June 14 to July 14, with several host venues across the country.
Temporary Border Controls Necessary to Prevent Terrorist Threats, Federal Police Says
As Spiegel explains, the Federal Police of Germany has recommended that border measures not be applied only during the time that the event takes place.
Instead, the authority has recommended that border controls be introduced two weeks before the start of the event and dropped one week after the event.
This means that Germany wants to introduce border controls starting June 1 and end them on July 21, 2024.
The suggestion of the Federal Police to keep the temporary border controls in place for such a long period of time comes amid increased terrorist threat concerns.
In addition to the above-mentioned, the Federal Police have also said that they are concerned about possible cyber attacks by hackers supporting Russia.
Authorities believe that the attack might focus on airports and public entities. They are also worried about potential threats to the digital systems of Euro 2024 and the possibility of stadium entry system failing.
This would cause chaos at the stadium’s entrances, and for this reason, the German authorities want to take all the necessary measures to ensure a smooth and safe experience.
2.5 Million People Expected to Reach Berlin Alone for Euro 2024
The Senator for Sports Iris Spranger has said that 2.5 million football enthusiasts are expected to enter Berlin alone for the Euro 2024 to support their national teams and favourite athletes.
Spranger further said that Berlin expects to see high visitor spending, with hotels and restaurants, among others, registering a high number of tourists.
Other German cities will see a high number of visitors, too.
Fans must keep in mind that they need to meet certain requirements before heading to Germany for the purpose of attending Euro 2024.
Visitors must also make sure to secure accommodation ahead of time and take enough money with them to support their stay.
