The European Commission has defended Germany's extended internal border controls as a necessary response to serious security and migration pressures, in a written answer by Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra to a parliamentary question from Jadwiga Wiśniewska (ECR). The reply, issued on behalf of the Commission, rejects claims that the prolonged checks are disproportionate, citing persistent illegal migration, strain on Germany's asylum system, and broader geopolitical risks including Russia's invasion of Ukraine and Middle East unrest. No formal infringement proceedings or member state complaints under Article 259 TFEU have been triggered, the Commission confirmed.
The response comes amid a broader EU debate on internal border controls and Schengen integrity. On April 15, Commissioner Magnus Brunner sought to smooth the rollout of the Schengen Entry/Exit System (EES), which has caused travel disruption since its full implementation on April 10. Aviation groups ACI EUROPE and Airlines for Europe (A4E) had urged the Commission and member states to grant flexibility after the system's first day led to widespread delays, with reports of 2–3 hour waits at airports across the Schengen area. The Commission noted that, when functioning at full capacity, traveller registration takes about 70 seconds, but acknowledged operational challenges.
Germany's border controls also intersect with ongoing migration pressures at the EU's external borders. On April 14, Commissioner Hoekstra outlined plans to boost EU preparedness against Middle East-linked migratory pressures, aiming to shield border states like Bulgaria from spillover effects. That same day, he advocated enhanced border surveillance to prevent refugee tragedies, referencing the Chios shipwreck. The Chios incident had earlier prompted Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi to uphold EU law on migrant maritime safety in a written answer on April 16.
The Commission's reply to Wiśniewska commits to ongoing assessments under the revised Schengen Borders Code and consultations with member states to consider alternative measures, referencing a 2024 recommendation on coordination regarding internal security threats. This cautious balancing act affirms national prerogatives to safeguard public order while requiring proportionality and exploring alternatives to border controls. The policy direction navigates the cleavage between national sovereignty and EU legal integration, with stakeholders including German law enforcement, asylum authorities, EU consumers, and businesses facing potential friction in movement and trade. The continued scrutiny signals ongoing political and legal negotiations over this sensitive policy frontier.
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