Today's Edition
PRAGUE (dpa)
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul defended his country's border controls with Poland and the Czech Republic, while calling for coordinated EU action on migration, during a visit to Prague on Monday.
"I believe that irregular migration affects us all and that we therefore need more order, including more order within and with Europe," Wadephul said after a meeting with his Czech counterpart Jan Lipavsky.
Poland began random checks at the border with Germany on Monday in response to stricter German controls at its borders.
Both countries are part of the visa-free Schengen area, which abolished border checks between its members. The Czech Republic - also a Schengen member - has not yet announced similar measures.
Wadephul spoke of a "transition" phase until the decisions on a common European asylum system have been consistently implemented and the European Union's external borders better protected.
He said it was important for Germany that temporary measures did not affect cross-border commuters and expressed his gratitude for the "uncomplicated and pragmatic cooperation" with the Czech Republic in this area.
Lipavsky said there was "significant convergence" in the views of Germany and the Czech Republic on the issue of migration.
Both ministers agreed to continue the Czech-German strategic dialogue, launched in July 2015, until 2027.
The initiative aims to strengthen bilateral cooperation in various areas and maintain dialogue on long-term issues, including cross-border crime, research and innovation, and energy and security policy.
