Key Takeaways:
- Germany extends temporary internal border controls for a further six months, now in force until at least mid-September 2026.
- The government cites the absence of a 'functional European migration policy' and overwhelmed local authorities as the primary reasons.
- Since September 2024, nearly 50,000 people have been turned back at the borders.
- The move persists despite a recent court ruling criticizing Germany's asylum procedures and previous expectations that EU-wide action would allow controls to end.
A Six-Month Extension Amidst Policy Stalemate
Germany's Interior Ministry has announced a six-month extension of temporary border controls, a measure first introduced in September 2024. Ministry spokesman Leonard Kaminski confirmed the checks will now remain in place until at least mid-September 2026, marking the third extension of the controversial policy.
Kaminski pointed to a systemic failure at the European level, stating the controls are necessary due to the lack of a 'functional European migration policy.' He emphasized the strain on local resources, arguing that authorities are 'still overwhelmed' and that the situation must become 'sustainable for our country, for our society.'
The Schengen Contradiction
This move represents a significant and prolonged deviation from the core principle of the Schengen Agreement, which abolished internal border checks across most of Western and Central Europe. The treaty allows for temporary reintroductions only under strict conditions, typically for urgent threats to public policy or internal security.
Germany, along with neighbors like Poland and Austria, justifies the checks by citing threats to 'order and security' from uncontrolled migration. The policy began under former Chancellor Olaf Scholz following a series of deadly attacks by foreign nationals and has been intensified by the current conservative-led coalition under Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
A Hardening Stance Under Merz
Since taking office in May, Chancellor Merz's government has deployed more police to the borders with the explicit aim of increasing the number of migrant turn-backs. The government frames this as part of a necessary 'overhaul of migration policy,' though Kaminski admits 'we haven't reached the end of the road.'
The data underscores the policy's scale:
- Between mid-September 2024 and the end of January, almost 50,000 people were sent back as a result of the checks.
- The government has also taken other hardline steps, including deporting some convicted criminals to Afghanistan and restricting family reunification for refugees.
Legal and Political Tensions
The extension comes despite mounting legal and political pressure:
- Court Challenge: In June, a German court ruled that the government broke the law by sending three Somalian asylum seekers back to Poland without properly considering their claims.
- Broken Promise? In December, Merz himself suggested the measures could soon end following new EU rules to better police the bloc's external borders. The latest extension signals those EU actions have not satisfied Berlin's concerns.
- Political Pressure: The anti-migration Alternative for Germany (AfD) party is now polling nearly level with Merz's CDU, illustrating the potent domestic political forces shaping the government's approach.
What It Means for Travel and Schengen
For travelers, the extension means continued sporadic spot-checks at Germany's land borders, particularly with Poland, the Czech Republic, and Austria. While not a full-scale reinstatement of permanent borders, it creates uncertainty and potential delays.
More broadly, Germany's prolonged reliance on this emergency tool signals a deep crisis of confidence in the EU's common migration system. It raises fundamental questions about the future of border-free travel if member states feel compelled to take unilateral, long-term action to manage migration pressures.