Key Takeaways: Germany has extended its temporary internal border controls for a further six months, keeping them in place until at least mid-September 2026. The government cites overwhelmed local authorities and the absence of a "functional European migration policy" as the primary reasons. This move continues a policy that began in September 2024 and has already seen nearly 50,000 people turned back.
A Policy Extended Indefinitely
Germany will extend its temporary border controls for another six months, the interior ministry confirmed on Monday. The spot-checks, first introduced in September 2024, will now remain in force until at least mid-September 2026. This marks the third extension of a measure initially presented as a short-term emergency response.
Ministry spokesman Leonard Kaminski stated the extension is necessary because "local authorities are still overwhelmed." He emphasized the need to reach a "sustainable" situation for German society, directly linking the controls to broader migration management failures.
The Schengen Contradiction
This policy creates a stark contradiction with the core principles of the Schengen Agreement. The treaty, covering most of Western and Central Europe, abolished internal border checks with only limited exceptions for genuine emergencies.
Germany, along with neighbors like Poland and Austria, has justified the reintroduction of checks by citing a threat to "public order and internal security" from uncontrolled migration. The last government under Olaf Scholz initiated the controls after a series of deadly attacks by foreign nationals.
"An overhaul of migration policy has begun, but we haven't reached the end of the road," Kaminski said, acknowledging the ongoing political struggle.
A Hardening Stance Under Merz
Since taking office in May, the conservative-led coalition under Chancellor Friedrich Merz has intensified the policy. The government has deployed more police to the borders with the explicit aim of turning back greater numbers of migrants.
Key actions under Merz include:
- Fortifying the border with Poland, including plans to deploy soldiers.
- Deporting some convicted criminals to Afghanistan.
- Restricting family reunification for refugees inside Germany.
The political context is charged. The anti-migration Alternative for Germany (AfD) party is polling nearly level with Merz's CDU, keeping pressure on the government to maintain a tough stance.
Legal Challenges and Future Uncertainty
Germany has not backed down from the checks despite legal challenges. A court ruled in June that the government broke the law when it sent back three Somali asylum seekers to Poland without properly considering their claims.
The government's own timeline for ending the controls remains unclear. In December, Merz suggested the measures could end following stronger EU action on external border security. However, with the latest extension, that prospect seems distant.
Between mid-September 2024 and the end of January 2025, almost 50,000 people were turned back as a direct result of these internal border checks. The extension signals that Germany's temporary fix is becoming a permanent feature of the European landscape, challenging the very idea of border-free travel within the bloc.