Controls at Germany’s external borders are to be extended for another half year, through mid-March. Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) officially notified the European Commission of this, as a ministry spokeswoman confirmed. The newspaper “Bild” had previously reported on this.
“Developments at Europe’s external borders show that curbing illegal migration continues to require border controls,” Dobrindt told the newspaper. The CSU politician had already announced the move at the end of July, when tens of thousands of migrants temporarily crossed the border from Morocco into the Spanish exclave of Ceuta in North Africa. Almost all of them later returned.
Although borders within the EU are supposed to be open, controls have been in place again at all German external borders since September 16, 2024. The then-Federal Minister of the Interior, Nancy Faeser (SPD), had ordered this to curb the number of unauthorized entries.
Despite growing criticism, the measure has already been extended three times—most recently until mid-September 2026. Unless the European Commission objects, the next six-month extension will remain in effect until mid-March 2027.
