Germany Ends Temporary Border Checks With France, Restoring Passport-Free Travel From 15 March 2026
Germany allowed its internal border checks to expire at midnight on 15 March 2026, restoring passport-free travel at the French-German frontier after six months of controls. The move immediately eases delays for cross-border commuters and freight, but companies are warned that spot police patrols inside German territory can still verify IDs. The episode highlights both the fragility of Schengen’s ‘border-free’ promise and the value of seamless mobility for Franco-German business ties.
Mar 16, 2026
