Key Takeaways:
- Germany extends temporary border controls for a further six months, now in force until at least mid-September 2026.
- The government cites an overwhelmed system and the lack of a 'functional European migration policy'.
- Nearly 50,000 people have been turned back since the checks began in September 2024.
- The move comes despite a recent court ruling criticizing Germany's handling of asylum seekers.
Germany has officially decided to prolong its temporary internal border controls within the Schengen Area. The measures, first introduced in September 2024, will now remain in force until at least mid-September 2026. This marks the third extension of a policy that was initially presented as a short-term emergency response.
Interior Ministry spokesman Leonard Kaminski stated the extension was necessary because 'local authorities are still overwhelmed.' He emphasized the need to reach a 'sustainable' situation for German society, directly linking the continued checks to perceived failures in broader European migration management.
A Persistent Challenge to Schengen Principles
The Schengen Agreement, designed to ensure passport-free travel across most of western and central Europe, allows for temporary reintroduction of border controls only under strict conditions. Germany, along with neighbors like Poland and Austria, justifies its actions by citing a threat to 'public order and internal security' from uncontrolled migration.
This latest extension signals a deepening normalization of what were meant to be exceptional measures. The policy began under former Chancellor Olaf Scholz following a series of deadly attacks and has been intensified under the current conservative-led coalition of Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
"An overhaul of migration policy has begun, but we haven't reached the end of the road," Kaminski said, acknowledging progress but insisting more order is needed.
Political Pressure and Enforcement Results
The decision unfolds against a tense political backdrop. The anti-migration Alternative for Germany (AfD) party is polling nearly level with Merz's CDU, keeping migration policy at the forefront of national debate. The government's crackdown has included:
- Deploying more police to borders to increase turn-backs.
- Deporting some convicted criminals to Afghanistan.
- Restricting family reunification for refugees.
The enforcement has been significant. Authorities report that between mid-September 2024 and the end of January 2025, almost 50,000 people were sent back as a direct result of the border checks.
Legal Controversies and European Context
Germany's stance is not without controversy. In June, a German court ruled that the government broke the law when it sent three Somali asylum seekers back to Poland without properly considering their claims. Despite this ruling, Berlin has not backed down from its overall policy.
The move also highlights a contradiction in the government's own statements. In December 2024, Chancellor Merz suggested the controls could end following improved EU action on external borders. The latest extension indicates those European solutions have not yet materialized to Berlin's satisfaction.
The prolonged controls represent a major stress test for the Schengen system, raising fundamental questions about the future of border-free travel in an era of political focus on migration control.