Interior Minister Dobrindt extends stationary border controls at German EU internal borders

At the same time, the minister pointed to previous successes in the fight against illegal migration. He spoke out in favor of "flexible und angepasste Binnengrenzkontrollen," in order to be able to respond to changing migration movements. The controls have been extended repeatedly over the past years.

The Federal Interior Ministry said that the situation at the EU internal borders remains tense in view of the unstable situation in several countries of origin and transit, as well as the precarious conditions in Ceuta. The Spanish exclave on the North African coast is considered one of the flashpoints of African migration toward Europe.

Background of the controls

The measure is also set against the backdrop of the Union's demand for a more consistent migration policy. The controls were originally ordered, among others, by former Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser and have been extended multiple times since. Dobrindt is thus continuing the line of his predecessor and in part expanding it.

The EU Commission in Brussels had so far tolerated the German controls within the framework of the Schengen rulebook, although it had repeatedly pointed to the burden on the free movement of persons. The affected neighboring countries had also repeatedly raised concerns because commuters and freight traffic are impeded by the stationary controls.

According to the ministry, the extension is intended, among other things, to prevent migration flows from the Western Balkans and from North Africa from reaching Germany in an uncontrolled manner. The focus is on cooperation with Spain, Morocco, and the EU border protection agencies.

Reactions from neighboring countries

Bavaria had most recently intensified its own initiatives calling for tighter controls at the border with Austria and put the federal government under pressure. Dobrindt's decision is therefore also interpreted as a response to this pressure from the CSU and the state group in the Bundestag.

Critics accuse the federal government of using the extended controls to distract from the lack of a European solution. Human rights organizations and refugee associations also point to the humanitarian situation in Ceuta and demand legal and safe routes to Europe instead of further fortification of the borders.

Outlook on the EU procedure

The federal government also announced that it would keep an eye on plans for major events in the coming year and adjust the controls to travel traffic during such events if necessary. Dobrindt emphasized that security and freedom of movement must be brought into a balanced relationship.

It remains unclear whether the EU Commission will accept the renewed extension in full. Procedures to assess the German control practice are already underway in Brussels. Should the Commission raise objections, the federal government could find itself in a mediation procedure.