Only hours after the Dresden court session began, motorists received more sobering news: Germany’s interior ministry has formally notified the European Commission that controls on its land borders—including the crossings with Czechia—will run at least until 15 March 2027. The announcement, confirmed by the motoring association ADAC on 11 November, marks the sixth consecutive extension since the measures were first imposed in 2023. According to the ministry, the decision is driven by “persistent migratory pressure, organised smuggling networks and a heightened threat situation arising from the Middle East conflict.” Checkpoints remain flexible—sometimes mobile, sometimes static—and can appear at short notice anywhere within 30 kilometres of the frontier. Rail passengers are also subject to on-board checks, and bus operators have reported sporadic delays at the Friedrichshafen, Waidhaus and Schirnding hubs. For Czech exporters the extension is more than an inconvenience. Germany absorbs roughly one-third of Czech exports, and automotive supply chains stretch back and forth across the border several times a day. Delays cost money: the Czech Confederation of Industry estimates an additional CZK 4.5 million (about €184 000) in daily logistics expenses for the sector alone. Cross-border workers—around 10 000 people in Ústí nad Labem and Karlovy Vary regions—must allow extra time or risk being late for shift changes. ADAC recommends that drivers keep passports or national ID cards readily accessible, plan alternative routes, check live traffic apps, and carry proof of vehicle ownership. Companies organising group travel should consider buffer times and, where possible, shift freight to night hours when queues are shorter. The European Commission, which maintains a running list of temporary controls, has reminded member states that such measures must remain proportionate and subject to regular assessment. Nevertheless, with several EU countries citing similar security concerns, the political appetite for a fully control-free Schengen appears to be waning—at least for now.
Source: ADAC
