In a series of opinions released on 2 June 2026, the European Commission formally questioned the proportionality of the internal border controls that Germany has kept in place with neighbouring Czechia, Poland, Switzerland, Austria and France since autumn 2023. While EU law allows temporary checks for public-security reasons, Brussels must issue an assessment once they exceed 12 months. The Commission now recommends that Berlin adopt ‘less intrusive alternatives’, such as joint police patrols, real-time data-sharing and the expanded use of mobile border-surveillance units, with a view to lifting fixed checkpoints by the end of this year. The opinion carries political weight but is not legally binding. However, it increases pressure on the German interior ministry, which has repeatedly prolonged the controls citing human-smuggling networks along the Balkan route. The latest Frontex figures show a 40 % drop in irregular entries so far in 2026, undermining Berlin’s justification and strengthening the Commission’s call for proportionality. For cross-border businesses, the controls have meant longer queues for lorries and commuters. The Bavarian Chamber of Commerce estimates that a two-hour average delay on the A6 and A17 motorways alone costs exporters €1.8 million a day in lost productivity. HR teams managing commuter allowances or split-week assignments have had to build in extra travel time and renegotiate delivery SLAs with clients. If Germany follows the Commission’s roadmap, companies can expect a gradual return to passport-free travel between now and December. In the interim, the ministry is likely to pilot more targeted checks using the EU Entry/Exit System (EES) and police data analytics. Mobility managers should monitor Federal Police notices and advise employees to carry identity documents until full Schengen normality is restored.
