Home » Austria Travel News » Luxembourg Challenges Germany, France, Italy, Austria, Netherlands, Slovenia, Poland, Belgium and More as Border Controls Return Across Europe and Schengen Collapses Under Migration Pressure: New Report You Need to Know
Monday, June 16, 2025
Luxembourg is openly challenging Germany, France, Italy, Austria, Netherlands, Slovenia, Poland, Belgium and More because all ten countries have reintroduced internal border controls, citing migration fears, which has pushed the Schengen Area toward collapse. Once the heart of Europe’s free-travel dream, the Schengen zone is now unraveling as border checks return across the continent, disrupting daily cross-border movement and undermining the core promise of unity. While most governments claim the measures are necessary to manage irregular migration and protect public security, Luxembourg argues these actions violate the spirit and legality of the agreement it helped create four decades ago.
A Crumbling Vision at 40 Years
The Schengen Agreement, once hailed as a triumph of European unity, is now facing its most severe existential test. Signed exactly 40 years ago near the tiny Luxembourgish commune of Schengen, the pact originally brought together Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg, France, and the Netherlands with the promise of gradually dismantling border controls. That commitment eventually expanded into a vast free-travel zone encompassing 29 countries and offering seamless movement to over 450 million people.
But what was once a beacon of integration is now unraveling. The promise of open borders is being steadily undermined by a growing list of countries that are reintroducing internal border checks—often justified under the banner of migration control and national security. What was once intended as a last-resort measure during crises has become routine.
Luxembourg Takes a Stand Against Rebordering
Among all the nations caught in this shift, it is Luxembourg—the symbolic birthplace of Schengen—that has taken the strongest stance against the resurgence of internal borders. Unlike its neighbors, Luxembourg has not reinstated any border checks. Instead, it has emerged as the lone defender of the pact’s original values, formally challenging ten of its fellow Schengen members: Germany, France, Italy, Austria, Netherlands, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Poland, and Belgium.
Luxembourg has submitted a complaint to the European Commission, expressing deep concern about how reintroduced border checks are affecting its cross-border workforce and regional stability. Tens of thousands of commuters travel in and out of Luxembourg daily. For a country deeply connected to its neighbors through labor, commerce, and transportation, the ripple effects of border restrictions are deeply disruptive.
In response, the government launched a dedicated email channel for citizens to report grievances related to the revived border controls. It continues to raise the issue at the EU level, with Luxembourg’s Home Affairs Minister calling on fellow member states to resist rolling back decades of progress.
Germany, France, and Others Reinstate Border Checks
The latest data confirms that 11 of the 29 Schengen countries have informed the European Commission of their decision to either implement or extend internal border controls as of June this year. Among them are some of the bloc’s most influential players: Germany, France, Italy, Austria, and the Netherlands, joined by Slovenia, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Poland, and Belgium.
The reasons cited are remarkably consistent: migration management and national security threats. Germany in particular invoked “serious threats to public security” due to illegal migration, prompting widespread checks along all of its borders. These controls were expanded under Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s administration, which has prioritized strict immigration enforcement.
Other nations have followed similar paths. Austria, Slovenia, and Italy each pointed to migration flows and asylum pressures as justification for reviving internal controls. The Netherlands and France echoed those concerns, while Bulgaria introduced border checks amid growing pressure from its EU neighbors. Even Belgium, traditionally aligned with EU integration, stated it would support temporary internal border controls to support its migration agenda.
A Legal Grey Zone and Mounting Tensions
According to the European Commission’s latest Schengen report, the reintroduction of border checks is only permitted under temporary and exceptional circumstances. However, critics argue that many of these so-called “temporary” measures have been rolled over continuously for years, effectively becoming permanent fixtures of policy.
While the Commission claims to be in “close contact” with countries that have reinstated checks, many inside the European Parliament believe the bloc is failing to enforce its own rules. The Commission’s own language describes these controls as “non-systematic,” but repeated renewals—especially in Germany and Austria—suggest otherwise.
The Commission has reiterated its commitment to strengthening external border protection, improving migration management, and equipping law enforcement with tools to address security threats. But Luxembourg and like-minded voices argue that internal controls defeat the purpose of Schengen and weaken the EU’s credibility.
Migration as the Driving Force
Migration remains the dominant justification behind the rollback of border-free travel. Most of the countries that have reinstated checks cite increased unauthorized crossings and asylum requests. The recent geopolitical crises, including instability in the Middle East and North Africa, have only intensified the pressure.
Germany’s hardline approach under its current leadership has sparked tension with neighboring countries. The Czech Republic and Poland have publicly criticized Berlin for not consulting them adequately and for creating bottlenecks at shared borders. Cross-border trade, tourism, and commuter movement have all suffered as a result.
Even Belgium, while introducing controls of its own, emphasized that the process should be measured and not obstruct daily life. Still, for smaller nations like Luxembourg that rely on seamless borders, even short-term restrictions have widespread consequences.
Where Border Controls Have Returned: Country-by-Country Breakdown
As of June 2025, 11 Schengen countries have notified the European Commission of reinstated or extended internal border checks, most citing migration pressure or public security threats. The following list outlines each country’s status and justification:
2025 Schengen Border Check Summary
Note: Although Schengen rules allow for temporary internal checks under Article 25 of the Schengen Borders Code, repeated and rolling extensions by multiple countries have prompted criticism over abuse of this clause.
Luxembourg is challenging Germany, France, Italy, Austria, Netherlands, Slovenia, Poland, Belgium and More for reintroducing internal border controls over migration fears, warning that these moves are dismantling Europe’s free-travel zone and accelerating Schengen’s collapse.
Schengen’s Future in Doubt
As the Schengen Agreement marks its 40th anniversary, its core promise—freedom of movement—is under visible strain. The growing list of countries reverting to internal border checks raises a fundamental question: Is Schengen still a living project, or is it slowly being dismantled?
Luxembourg insists the former, urging fellow nations to recommit to open borders and collaborative solutions. It sees itself as a guardian of the Schengen spirit, reminding Europe that unity cannot survive if each country retreats into isolation.
Whether the bloc will respond with stronger enforcement or continue allowing piecemeal rebordering remains uncertain. But one thing is clear: if the current trend continues, the Schengen zone risks becoming a shell of what it once was—a fragile framework constantly disrupted by fear, politics, and division.
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