North Rhine‑Westphalia Minister Reul Defends Border Checks with Belgium and the Netherlands

North Rhine‑Westphalia interior minister Herbert Reul rejected proposals to end the border controls with Belgium and the Netherlands, saying they help bring order to the migration question. While he “is not a fervent fan of border checks”, Reul argued that more precise entry inspections have proven effective.

The debate follows the EU's new Common European Asylum System (GEAS) that came into force on 12 June, shifting asylum procedures to external EU borders. EU migration commissioner Magnus Brunner indicated that member states could work toward dismantling internal checks as asylum applications continue to fall across the bloc. Frontex data also show a decline in irregular border crossings.

Germany re‑introduced border controls on all state borders in September 2024, later intensified by former interior minister Alexander Dobrindt and extended three times, most recently until mid‑September 2026. CDU internal expert Gregor Golland praised the measures as a success in combating illegal migration, crime, and drug trafficking, while Green spokesperson Julia Höller criticized the approach as a superficial solution.

Reul’s stance keeps the controls in place despite EU pressure to concentrate checks at outer borders.