Germany rejects EU demand to end internal border controls

German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt told journalists that internal border checks remain “necessary”, arguing they effectively curb push‑backs, illegal migration and smuggling networks. He said, “The considerable number of push‑backs … shows how effective these border protection measures are, and therefore we want to continue them.”

The remarks came during a meeting of EU interior ministers in Luxembourg, where the European Commission urged Austria, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Slovenia and Sweden to gradually lift Schengen‑area checks and also asked non‑EU Norway to do the same. Ten EU states still operate internal controls, with seven citing migration as the reason.

Commissioner for Home Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner countered that irregular migration numbers are falling, reforms are in place and it is “the right time to gradually remove these controls”. The EU has also agreed on a controversial law to accelerate the return of migrants without legal residence, including provisions for establishing return centres outside the bloc.