04:42Tough new border checks were seen being carried out in Schengen at the Luxembourg-German border on Tuesday, after Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced the measures to ramp up border security.
"That's symbolic politics, there are elections next year in Germany and everyone wants to catch some votes on the right side and that's why these border checks have been introduced," claimed Lucien Max, a local councillor. "This is money thrown out the window in my opinion."
Footage shows aerial views of the huge lines of traffic, police checking buses and cars, as well as the sign: 'Welcome Schengen, the path to a borderless Europe'.
German authorities claim the measures, in place for six months at all land borders, will reduce irregular migration and tackle terrorism, but some believed it wouldn't work.
"Those interested in trafficking will continue do it without using the highway. There are still enough open borders where you can cross. It's not a problem if you want to," claimed one German tourist, Peter.
"Blocking the borders won't solve the problem," added Thibault, from the French area of Moselle.
Scholz first promised an immigration 'crackdown' following a mass stabbing in Solingen and the arrest of a Syria asylum seeker.
Last week, Polish PM Donald Tusk described the changes as the 'de facto suspension of the Schengen agreement', the deal dating back to 1995 which abolishes border restrictions between 29 European countries.
Domestic critics in Germany have claimed the move is a 'political' one to address the rise of anti-immigration groups like Alternative for Germany (AfD). The AfD claimed victory in Thuringia and came second in Saxony, and is expected to take the most votes in Brandenburg on the September 22 election.
'Symbolic politics, there are elections next year' - Reaction to Berlin's migrant crackdown at Luxembourg-German border
Tough new border checks were seen being carried out in Schengen at the Luxembourg-German border on Tuesday, after Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced the measures to ramp up border security.
"That's symbolic politics, there are elections next year in Germany and everyone wants to catch some votes on the right side and that's why these border checks have been introduced," claimed Lucien Max, a local councillor. "This is money thrown out the window in my opinion."
Footage shows aerial views of the huge lines of traffic, police checking buses and cars, as well as the sign: 'Welcome Schengen, the path to a borderless Europe'.
German authorities claim the measures, in place for six months at all land borders, will reduce irregular migration and tackle terrorism, but some believed it wouldn't work.
"Those interested in trafficking will continue do it without using the highway. There are still enough open borders where you can cross. It's not a problem if you want to," claimed one German tourist, Peter.
"Blocking the borders won't solve the problem," added Thibault, from the French area of Moselle.
Scholz first promised an immigration 'crackdown' following a mass stabbing in Solingen and the arrest of a Syria asylum seeker.
Last week, Polish PM Donald Tusk described the changes as the 'de facto suspension of the Schengen agreement', the deal dating back to 1995 which abolishes border restrictions between 29 European countries.
Domestic critics in Germany have claimed the move is a 'political' one to address the rise of anti-immigration groups like Alternative for Germany (AfD). The AfD claimed victory in Thuringia and came second in Saxony, and is expected to take the most votes in Brandenburg on the September 22 election.
Tough new border checks were seen being carried out in Schengen at the Luxembourg-German border on Tuesday, after Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced the measures to ramp up border security.
"That's symbolic politics, there are elections next year in Germany and everyone wants to catch some votes on the right side and that's why these border checks have been introduced," claimed Lucien Max, a local councillor. "This is money thrown out the window in my opinion."
Footage shows aerial views of the huge lines of traffic, police checking buses and cars, as well as the sign: 'Welcome Schengen, the path to a borderless Europe'.
German authorities claim the measures, in place for six months at all land borders, will reduce irregular migration and tackle terrorism, but some believed it wouldn't work.
"Those interested in trafficking will continue do it without using the highway. There are still enough open borders where you can cross. It's not a problem if you want to," claimed one German tourist, Peter.
"Blocking the borders won't solve the problem," added Thibault, from the French area of Moselle.
Scholz first promised an immigration 'crackdown' following a mass stabbing in Solingen and the arrest of a Syria asylum seeker.
Last week, Polish PM Donald Tusk described the changes as the 'de facto suspension of the Schengen agreement', the deal dating back to 1995 which abolishes border restrictions between 29 European countries.
Domestic critics in Germany have claimed the move is a 'political' one to address the rise of anti-immigration groups like Alternative for Germany (AfD). The AfD claimed victory in Thuringia and came second in Saxony, and is expected to take the most votes in Brandenburg on the September 22 election.