European Union Migration Commissioner Magnus Brunner has officially called on the German government to begin a gradual removal of temporary border controls at its internal Schengen borders. Speaking in Brussels, Brunner pointed to a significant 37 percent decline in irregular border crossings during the first half of 2026 as evidence that the security situation has stabilized. He argued that with the European Union’s new asylum reform, known as the Common European Asylum System, now in effect, the conditions that originally necessitated these emergency measures have fundamentally changed.
Germany has maintained temporary controls at its land borders since September 2024, a policy initially implemented to manage irregular migration and later extended by the current government. While these measures were intended to be a last resort under the Schengen Borders Code, they have become a fixture of daily life for travelers and businesses. Commissioner Brunner noted that some progress is already visible, citing the recent removal of controls on the border between Germany and Luxembourg as a positive step toward restoring the free movement that defines the Schengen Area.
Despite the Commissioner’s appeal, the German government has shown little immediate willingness to abandon the policy. Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt has consistently defended the necessity of these checks, arguing that they remain a vital tool for maintaining internal security and managing migration flows. The government maintains that the effectiveness of the new EU-wide asylum rules must be proven in practice before it can safely dismantle its own national border infrastructure.
For the general public, the debate centers on the balance between security and the practical realities of a borderless Europe. Cross-border commuters, logistics companies, and holiday travelers continue to face periodic delays and traffic congestion, particularly at major crossings. As the European Commission continues its dialogue with member states, the future of these controls remains a point of contention between Brussels' vision of a unified, open border zone and the national security priorities of individual member governments.