The European Commission’s criticism of the continued internal border controls may seem understandable from Brussels’ perspective. From the viewpoint of local security authorities, however, it appears increasingly out of touch with reality. Bavaria’s Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann is therefore correct when he points out that open borders can only function in the long term if Europe’s external borders are effectively protected.
The Schengen system is based on a simple political promise: freedom of movement within the EU in exchange for security at the external borders. If this second part is not sufficiently fulfilled, the focus inevitably shifts back to internal borders. This is exactly what we have been experiencing for years. As long as illegal migration, human trafficking, and organized cross-border crime are not effectively curbed at the external borders, it remains difficult to explain why member states should forego additional controls.
Yet the debate often falls short. Border controls have long since ceased to serve exclusively for migration management. The experience of the Bavarian Border Police shows that human traffickers, arms dealers, drug smugglers, and counterfeiters are regularly apprehended during checks. Anyone who questions border controls across the board must therefore also explain how these security gains are to be compensated for in the future.
At the same time, the current situation must not become a permanent state of affairs. Permanent internal border controls are no substitute for a functioning European security architecture. Rather, they are a symptom of the fact that Europe has not yet done its shared homework. This includes effective external border protection, consistent implementation of the Common European Asylum System (CEAS), and significantly closer cooperation among security authorities in combating cross-border crime.
The real question, therefore, is not whether Bavaria or Germany should currently be conducting border controls. The crucial question is why, even years after the start of the migration crisis, Europe is still unable to create the conditions that would actually render these controls unnecessary.
As long as this is not achieved, Herrmann’s argument remains compelling: Those who wish to maintain open borders must first ensure secure borders. Otherwise, the European project will lose precisely what it needs most—the trust of its citizens.
