Denmark on Monday stepped up its border controls with Germany on the heels of Sweden’s move to tighten security due to an influx of refugees.
Travelers coming from Germany will have to undergo spot checks, though the new measures weren’t expected to affect “ordinary” Danes and Germans crossing the border, Danish Prime Minister Lars Loekke Rasmusssen said, according to the Associated Press.
“We are introducing temporary border controls, but in a balanced way,” Loekke Rasmussen said. “If the European Union cannot protect the external border you will see more and more countries forced to introduce temporary border controls.”
The crackdown comes as Sweden introduced new ID checks for all passengers entering the country by train, bus or ferry after 160,000 people applied for asylum in the country last year, the AP reports. Danish Transport Minister Hans Christian Schmidt called the move sad and “extremely annoying,” according to the BBC.
More Must-Reads From TIME
- The 100 Most Influential People of 2024
- Coco Gauff Is Playing for Herself Now
- Scenes From Pro-Palestinian Encampments Across U.S. Universities
- 6 Compliments That Land Every Time
- If You're Dating Right Now , You're Brave: Column
- The AI That Could Heal a Divided Internet
- Fallout Is a Brilliant Model for the Future of Video Game Adaptations
- Want Weekly Recs on What to Watch, Read, and More? Sign Up for Worth Your Time
Contact us at letters@time.com