Since the 4th of January 2016 the Danish Government has enforced a temporary border control at the German border. This means that one now must carry their passport when crossing the border or risk a heavy fine - which applies to over 10.000 people that do this daily to get to work or school in the neighbouring country. On top of this the border control often causes big traffic jams, sometimes leading to waiting times of several hours, which present an annoying struggle in an everyday commute. These border-commuters are vital for the region, as they often fill gaps in the workforce of the respective neighbouring country.
While the temporary border controls introduced by Denmark in 2016 were unilateral—affecting only those entering Denmark—Germany followed their lead in September 2024 by implementing its own border checks. Restricting the freedom of movement in the border region even further. In February 2025, the German government announced that these temporary controls would be extended beyond March 15, for an additional six months, until September 15, 2025.
The continued use of temporary border controls at the German-Danish border represents a clear violation of the Schengen Agreement, which was designed to ensure the free movement of people within the Schengen Zone. While Article 25 of the Schengen Borders Code allows for the reintroduction of internal border checks in cases of serious threats to public policy or internal security, such measures are meant to be truly exceptional, limited in scope, and strictly time-bound. Denmark, however, has continuously extended these controls since 2016, citing vague threats such as migration pressure or crime, without providing sufficient evidence to justify such measures under Schengen rules. Germany’s recent reintroduction and extension of border controls – despite the absence of a clearly defined and immediate threat – raises similar concerns, suggesting a worrying normalization of what should remain an emergency exception.
This prolonged use of “temporary” border checks undermines the legal framework and spirit of Schengen, turning what was meant to be an emergency measure into a de facto permanent border control. The European Commission, which is responsible for ensuring that EU law is upheld, has so far failed to take meaningful action against Denmark, despite repeated concerns raised by legal experts and civil society groups in the region. This inaction sends a troubling signal to other member states: that violations of EU agreements can go unpunished. If left unchecked, such behavior threatens the cohesion and future of the Schengen Area as a whole.
For these reasons, the European Free Alliance Youth, reaffirming our commitment to the Schengen Agreement:
- Demands that the Danish and German governments end the prolonged and unjustified border controls at the German-Danish border, in accordance with the Schengen Borders Code. Any future controls must be clearly time-limited, proportionate, and based on concrete, transparent threat assessments.
- Calls on the EU Commission to initiate proceedings against Denmark and Germany for violating Schengen rules. The Commission must uphold EU law and ensure all member states comply with the agreed-upon standards for internal border governance.
- Advocates for stronger enforcement mechanisms within the Schengen framework, including stricter oversight and consequences for long-term misuse of temporary border checks.