Germany's Merz: want to keep Schengen area but cannot be abused

BERLIN (Reuters) -Germany wants to retain the EU's Schengen area which allows free movement but that can only work if it is not abused by criminals who smuggle migrants, Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Tuesday.

"We naturally want to preserve this Schengen area, but freedom of movement in the Schengen area will only work in the long term if it is not abused by those who promote irregular migration, in particular by smuggling migrants," he said at a news conference with his counterpart from Luxembourg.

Merz also said Germany was working closely with Poland on border controls in an effort to solve the problem of illegal migration.

"There is a very close, very collegial, friendly cooperation between the heads of government, that is, between (Polish Prime Minister) Donald Tusk and me, and between interior ministers, because we want to solve a common problem together," Merz said.

(Reporting by Rachel MoreWriting by Madeline ChambersEditing by Miranda Murray)

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