Meeting in Berlin for the 26th Franco–German Ministerial Council, President Emmanuel Macron and Chancellor Friedrich Merz pledged to “ensure close coordination of our internal border controls” and to strengthen “common tools to enhance cross-border cooperation in the fight against irregular immigration,” according to the joint communiqué released on 17 July. The two governments say they will pool data and operational experience to support an agreement under Article 23a of the revised Schengen Borders Code, which allows member states to reintroduce internal checks in exceptional circumstances. Paris and Berlin also endorsed the EU’s new Action Plan for the Channel migration route, framing small-boat crossings from mainland Europe to the UK as a shared European challenge that “must be implemented without delay.” While details remain sparse, officials indicated that pilot projects could include joint mobile patrols, expanded use of drones along the northern French coast and a Franco-German-funded intelligence cell embedded within Frontex. For global-mobility managers, the announcement signals possible tighter document checks at Franco-German land crossings and maritime choke-points in the months ahead. Although aimed primarily at irregular migration, any reinstated controls could lengthen processing times for legitimate travellers, including cross-border commuters and transport-sector staff. Companies with French and German operations should track forthcoming guidance on priority-lane accreditation and be prepared for ad-hoc ID inspections on long-distance coaches and rail services. The policy shift also underscores a broader trend: EU states are increasingly willing to use internal border controls as a flexible security tool. Since 2015, France has maintained rolling checks after terrorist attacks, while Germany has periodically controlled its border with Austria during migration spikes. Harmonising procedures could create a de-facto template for other Schengen members. Negotiators hope to finalise a new bilateral police-and-customs treaty before year-end, which would give officers legal authority to operate up to 20 km inside each other’s territory—further blurring national lines in Europe’s evolving border-management landscape.
Source: Élysée Palace
