EU Commissioner’s Appeal to Germany
Magnus Brunner, the European Commissioner for Home Affairs and Migration, has called on Germany to gradually phase out border controls with other EU member states. This proposal comes at a time when illegal migration is declining and new EU asylum regulations have taken effect. Brunner emphasized that the moment has arrived to remove internal EU border checks, a move that could positively impact the region.
According to data from the Frontex agency, irregular crossings of the EU’s external borders fell by roughly one-third in the first half of 2023. This decline, along with the new EU Migration and Asylum Pact that came into force on June 12, provides grounds for reevaluating existing control measures. Brunner also pointed to the cessation of checks on the motorway near Trier at the Germany-Luxembourg border, as well as the removal of controls between Austria and Slovenia.
Background on Germany’s Border Controls
Germany first introduced checks on all its land borders in September 2024 under then-Interior Minister Nancy Faeser. In May 2025, her successor, Alexander Dobrindt, intensified these inspections. Currently, the controls are set to remain in place at least until September 2025, but Germany’s Federal Ministry of the Interior has announced an extension of temporary checks on all land borders for another six months, through mid-September 2026.
Thus, Brunner’s appeal could mark the first step toward a shift in Germany’s border control policy and that of the European Union as a whole.
This call reflects the EU’s efforts to adapt its migration policies to new realities, particularly the reduction in illegal migration. Lifting border checks could enhance mobility for EU citizens, but it also raises concerns about security and the potential for new migration waves. It remains to be seen how member state governments will respond to this proposal and whether they can strike a balance between freedom of movement and regional security.