Germany extends temporary EU border controls for six months, citing migration pressures and security concerns under Chancellor Friedrich Merz

The government of Germany has announced a six-month extension of its temporary border controls, keeping spot-checks in place until at least mid-September 2026.

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According to the interior ministry, the measures remain necessary due to ongoing migration pressures and the absence of a “functional European migration policy.”

The checks were first introduced in September 2024 and have now been extended multiple times.

Under the European Union’s Schengen Agreement, internal border checks are generally abolished except during emergencies.

However, Germany and several neighbouring countries have reintroduced controls, citing security concerns linked to irregular migration.

Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s coalition government has increased police deployment at borders and toughened migration policies since taking office.

Authorities say nearly 50,000 people were turned back between mid-September and the end of January due to the checks.

The policy shift comes amid political pressure from the anti-migration **Alternative for Germany** (AfD), which is polling competitively with Merz’s conservative bloc.

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German officials maintain that stricter border management is essential to restore order to migration policy while broader EU-level reforms are still pending.