Germany has prolonged its temporary internal border controls across all land borders until September 15, 2026, as confirmed by the Federal Ministry of the Interior in a formal notification to the European Commission on March 6.www.visahq.com This six-month extension, building on prior renewals since September 2024, addresses ongoing secondary movements of irregular migrants and security concerns linked to the Middle East conflict.www.fragomen.com The decision aligns with similar measures by neighbors like Poland, which extended checks on its borders with Germany and Lithuania until April 4 or October 1, 2026, citing people-smuggling networks and high migration pressure from Belarus.www.visahq.comwww.globalbankingandfinance.com The reintroduction of checks under Article 25 of the Schengen Borders Code allows EU states to implement temporary measures in response to threats like irregular migration, despite normally prohibiting internal controls to preserve free movement. Germany's extension has drawn EU backlash, with Saxony's Green party questioning proportionality and Commission officials pledging scrutiny. Travelers and businesses face spot checks requiring passports or ID cards, leading to delays—up to 45 minutes for trucks from France and over an hour at Polish crossings like Świecko during peaks—potentially costing logistics firms €80 million annually. As multiple Schengen states including Austria, France, and Sweden maintain controls through mid-2026, the measures reflect broader instrumentalization of migration amid updated EU rules from mid-2024. Commuters and firms are advised to plan for buffers, especially near events like Euro 2026, while random inspections continue without systematic stamping. This trend underscores persistent challenges to the Schengen Area's open-border principle.