Germany’s Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt has voiced strong opposition to the European Commission’s recommendation to abolish internal border checks within the country. His remarks came ahead of a meeting with EU interior ministers in Luxembourg.
Dobrindt stated that while the number of illegal migrants has decreased, border checks remain vital for Germany. He emphasized the need for improved protection of the EU’s external borders and insisted that countries where migrants first arrive should be responsible for those who subsequently travel to other EU nations.
“All these factors are interconnected,” Dobrindt noted, pointing to the effectiveness of current measures in curbing illegal migration. He called for a swift implementation of a new support mechanism for nations that host large numbers of migrants.
In contrast, EU Commissioner Magnus Brunner had previously asserted that the Schengen Area, which allows for passport-free travel among member states, should function optimally, marking it as one of the EU’s major achievements. He argued that the time has come to gradually lift internal border checks.
The European Commission has indicated that internal border checks are no longer necessary due to significant shifts in the bloc’s migration policy. New measures aimed at strengthening border control procedures and enhancing support for countries receiving high numbers of migrants are set to be enacted next week.
Currently, ten EU countries maintain internal border checks, with seven citing migration as a justification for these measures. Although these checks are intended to be temporary, some nations have been enforcing them for years.
Earlier this week, the European Commission urged Austria, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Slovenia, and Sweden to gradually eliminate their border checks. Poland was not included in this request.
Luxembourg had previously lodged a complaint against Germany regarding border checks at their shared border in 2025, leading to a partial easing of controls in May 2026, though they were not entirely lifted. Luxembourg’s Interior Minister, Jean Gloden, welcomed the Commission’s insistence on abolishing border controls.
Germany's Interior Minister has rejected the EU's call to remove internal border checks, stressing their necessity amid ongoing migration challenges. While the EU plans to enhance border control measures, Dobrindt argues for improved external border protections and accountability for countries hosting migrants.
Source: Politico