EU Commissioner Urges Germany to End Internal Border Checks.

Push to Lift Border Controls Within the EU

According to Укрінформ — Мігранти: Magnus Brunner, the European Commissioner for Home Affairs and Migration, has called on Germany to gradually eliminate border checks with fellow EU member states. This move follows a notable drop in irregular migration and the rollout of updated asylum regulations. During the first half of 2024, unauthorized crossings at the EU's external borders fell by roughly one-third.

Germany reinstated checks at all its land borders in September 2024, a measure introduced by then-Interior Minister Nancy Faeser. These were further tightened in May 2025 by current Minister Alexander Dobrindt. The controls are currently set to remain in place until at least September 2026.

Shift in Migration Management

Brunner stated: 'Now is the time to progressively remove checks at internal European borders.'

This signals a change in how the EU approaches migration governance. If the recommendations are followed, it could lead to the end of inspections on the highway near Trier at the Germany-Luxembourg border, as well as the removal of controls between Austria and Slovenia. These steps could mark a significant milestone in the evolution of open-border policy across Europe.

Lifting border checks may reflect positive developments in managing migration flows within the European Union, potentially strengthening unity and cooperation among member states. The reduction in illegal border crossings also suggests that the new asylum policies are proving effective, which might encourage other nations to adopt similar changes in their own migration strategies.