Border controls: traffic jams & costs endanger Brandenburg's economy!

Border controls: traffic jams & costs endanger Brandenburg's economy!

Controls at the German external borders, especially Poland, have far -reaching consequences for the economy and the logistics industry. These measures that were originally introduced to prevent irregular migration currently lead to considerable traffic jams and increased costs for companies and society. On the A12 behind the border, traffic is led single -lane, with the German police checking vehicles. It is estimated that the waiting times at the border crossings at best are 40 to 60 minutes and can achieve up to six to seven hours after public holidays, which has a significant impact on productivity. Koos the Rooijen, a freight forwarder from the Netherlands, expresses that these controls are not only stressful, but also apply as hidden costs that cannot be compensated for by the freight forwarders. According to Eberhard Tief from the Feutzenverkehr specialist association, the traffic jams bring millions of losses annually.

Economic impact of border controls

The Eastern Brandenburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Association of Traffic industry have already sent a fire letter to the Federal Minister of the Interior, in which the urgency of the problem is pointed out. Every year, almost four million trucks roll over the Frankfurt (Oder) border crossing, and the continuing controls disrupt the supply chains, which affects the competitiveness of the companies. These concerns are underpinned by a study by the credit insurer Allianz Trade, which warns that new border controls could further weaken the German economy. Additional waiting times could increase the transport and goods costs for imports by around 1.7 percent, which could potentially lead to a loss of up to 1.1 billion euros per year. In addition, recession risks can increase, with possible losses in gross domestic product of up to 11.5 billion euros.

Political statements and outlook

The Prime Minister of Brandenburg, Dietmar Woidke, defends the controls under the pretext that they are necessary to combat irregular migration, although experts question the effectiveness of these measures. Poland ambassador Jan Tombiński has also asked to end the controls on the German side because Poland has invested in the protection of the EU's external border. The background to this is that Poland has introduced border controls themselves in response to German controls. Frank Huster, General Manager of the Federal Association of Spedition and Logistics, describes the controls as a negative signal and explains that the existing infrastructure is already dilapidated, which could further tighten the situation.

The new border controls, which initially apply for six months, affect not only the border with Poland, but also to the Czech Republic, Switzerland, France, Denmark, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg. The logistics industry therefore not only fears additional costs, but also longer travel times that the supply chains could significantly impair. The management agreed that an introduction of separate traces for different vehicle types, such as cars, small vans, buses and trucks, as well as the use of a former pass control system, could defuse the situation.

In summary, it can be stated that the current developments at the German external borders have serious economic consequences. The industry is faced with a variety of challenges that seriously endanger both productivity and competitiveness. The dialogue between business and politics is considered necessary to find constructive solutions and to alleviate the effects on the retail chains and ultimately on society as a whole.

For further information on the effects of border controls on the economy, see rbb24, Merkur and Tagesschau.