While they were initially intended as an exceptional measure, some temporary border controls within the Schengen area have become the norm since 2015. Germany, once the driving force behind the opening of internal borders, has been controlling some of its borders since 2015, referring among others to security risks and migration. Since 2025, asylum seekers have also been rejected at the borders.
In this issue of the Berlin Perspectives, Johanna Hase argues that the effectiveness of the controls, especially in terms of the sustainable reduction of irregular migration, does not outweigh their high costs. At the same time, they hinder the internal market, can undermine trust between European member states and probably violate European law. She recommends suspending these controls and to instead scientifically evaluate their impact, to focus on the implementation of the reformed CEAS, and to strengthen genuine cross-border cooperation.
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