The European Commission calls for the gradual elimination of internal border controls. Nine Schengen states still maintain temporary checks
The European Commission on Tuesday called for the gradual elimination of controls introduced at the internal borders of the Schengen area, after several member states extended the measures adopted in recent years amid concerns about migration and security.
The European Commission calls for the gradual reduction of internal border controls. PHOTO: Shutterstock
The institution has published opinions on temporary controls maintained by Austria, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Slovenia and Sweden. According to a statement from the Commission, Member States have the right to temporarily reintroduce internal border controls when they face serious threats to security or public order, but these measures must remain exceptional and proportionate.
The Commission recognizes that security and migration concerns are real, but warns that maintaining controls affects the functioning of the Schengen area and may have consequences for commuters, border communities and the movement of goods and services.
The European executive is recommending that the nine states begin phasing out controls and use alternatives such as non-systematic police checks, mobile biometric identification and closer cooperation between national authorities.
The discussion comes as several European states have reintroduced or expanded internal border controls amid migration pressures.
Germany is among the states that have been applying such measures for a longer time. Border controls with Poland, the Czech Republic and Switzerland were introduced in October 2023 and have since been extended several times. In September 2024, Berlin expanded checks to all of the country's land borders, including with Denmark, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg,
The topic recently returned to the spotlight last summer after Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced that Poland would reintroduce temporary border controls with Germany and Lithuania starting July 7. The government in Warsaw claims that the measure is necessary to limit the uncontrolled entry of migrants and to manage migratory pressure from the external borders of the European Union.
Both Romania and Bulgaria went through a period of temporary controls after full accession to the Schengen area. At the end of 2024, Sofia decided to maintain border checks with Romania for a period of six months, based on a joint declaration signed with Austria, Hungary and Romania.
The European Commission, however, relies on the new European instruments on migration and external border control to allow a return to free movement. These include the Pact on Migration and Asylum, the Entry-Exit system, which became fully operational this year, and the upcoming ETIAS system for travelers from outside the European Union.
The Schengen area allows movement without internal border controls between most European states and is considered one of the main benefits of European integration. According to the Commission, free movement contributes to the functioning of the single market and the economic development of border regions.
