German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt announced that border checks will continue for another six months in response to ongoing security and migration challenges. This decision has been communicated to the European Commission, as Germany is a member of the Schengen Area, which typically allows free movement of people and goods. However, under serious threat conditions, Brussels permits member states to implement temporary restrictive measures, including reinstating border controls for up to two years.

Poland and Austria have also reinstated border checks due to uncontrolled migration, although experts are hesitant to evaluate the effectiveness of these measures. The German authorities reported that from mid-September of last year until the end of January of this year, nearly 50,000 migrants were barred from entering the country. Meanwhile, there have been reports of illegal actions by border guards, including a ruling from a court in June of the previous year which found the government had violated the law by sending three asylum seekers from Somalia back to Poland without considering their applications.

This extension of border controls reflects the ongoing challenges Europe faces regarding migration and security. The implementation of these measures indicates a growing trend among Schengen countries to prioritize national security over free movement principles, potentially impacting the future of the Schengen Agreement and the balance between open borders and national safety.