Germany wants to extend border controls for another 6 months

Women and children stroll at a makeshift camp for migrants and refugees at the northern Greek border point of Idomeni, Greece, Monday, May 2, 2016. Many thousands of migrants remain at the Greek border with Macedonia, hoping that the border crossing will reopen, allowing them to move north into central Europe. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia) (The Associated Press)

A man lays inside a tent set on the tracks of a train station which was turned into a makeshift camp for migrants and refugees at the northern Greek border point of Idomeni, Greece, Monday, May 2, 2016. Many thousands of migrants remain at the Greek border with Macedonia, hoping that the border crossing will reopen, allowing them to move north into central Europe. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia) (The Associated Press)

A woman walks past tent and shelters set at a makeshift camp crowded by migrants and refugees at the northern Greek border point of Idomeni, Greece, Sunday, May 1, 2016. Many thousands of migrants remain at the Greek border with Macedonia, hoping that the border crossing will reopen, allowing them to move north into central Europe. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia) (The Associated Press)

Germany and some other EU countries are planning to ask the EU Commission for an extension of border controls within the Schengen passport-free travel zone for another six months because they fear a new wave of migrants.

Interior Minister Thomas de Maizere's spokesman says a letter is being sent Monday asking for an extension of the controls on the German-Austrian border, which were implemented last year when thousands of migrants crossed into Germany daily.

De Maizere has expressed concern before that an increasing number of migrants will try to reach Europe this summer by crossing the Mediterranean Sea from lawless Libya to Italy, then travel north to Austria and Germany.

Germany registered nearly 1.1 million new arrivals last year and is keen to bring the numbers down in 2016.