Germany’s re-imposed internal border checks will include crossings into Belgium from 16 September

An update published on the European Commission’s Schengen portal lists Germany among the member states re-introducing temporary internal border controls from 16 September 2026 through 15 March 2027. The measure cites “continued serious threats to public security and order” linked to migrant smuggling and pressures on the asylum system. For Belgium, the decision means that motorists and rail passengers entering Germany from Liège, Eupen and other eastern points should expect possible ID checks. Freight operators could likewise face spot inspections, which may extend door-to-door delivery times into the Ruhr Valley and beyond. The Federal Police in Aachen say staffing has been bolstered at the A3 and A44 motorway crossings, while Deutsche Bahn will deploy mobile teams on ICE services from Brussels to Cologne and Frankfurt. Although Schengen rules allow such controls only as a last resort, Germany has repeatedly renewed them since 2023 under the same security rationale. Belgian authorities have urged travellers to carry valid passports or national ID cards and to factor in potential delays when planning journeys. Companies that shuttle technicians or lorry drivers across the border should review documentation protocols and account for longer transit windows in service-level agreements. If the six-month measure is extended—as has happened in previous cycles—Belgian exporters may lobby for express lanes or Trusted Trader programmes to minimise disruption during the critical winter manufacturing season.