Access Denied: Is Germany Going to Close Its ‘Open Doors' to Refugees?

Germany may soon follow the example of other European countries and close its borders to refugees.

According to the German newspaper Die Welt, Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere is planning to put an end to the uncontrolled refugee influx to Germany.

As the newspaper reported earlier, the minister has already started to work on a plan that will give the German government an opportunity to send back refugees attempting to cross the German border.

The plan may enter into force in the coming weeks if the number of refugees coming to the EU does not decrease as result of previous measures. The plan is of particular relevance in the context of the forthcoming EU-Turkey summit set to take place on March 7.

Earlier, German Chancellor Angela Merkel cut a deal with Turkey, according to which EU member states will give some $3.3 billion to Ankara and fast track negotiations for its accession to the bloc in response to Turkey's assistance in tackling the migration crisis and protecting the EU borders from illegal crossings.

However, if the deal proves to be insufficient, a complete closure of EU borders for migrants may become a real, although "least desirable," perspective.

Europe has been beset by a massive refugee crisis, with hundreds of thousands of undocumented migrants fleeing their home countries to escape violence and poverty. EU border agency Frontex recorded more than 1.8 million illegal border crossings onto European territory in 2015.