Frankfurt (Oder) mayor Axel Strasser has urged Berlin to treat the latest six-month extension of temporary Schengen checks on the Polish border as a short-term measure only. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt last week prolonged the controls, first introduced in October 2023 to curb irregular migration, until at least 15 September 2026.
Strasser told Deutsche Presse-Agentur that daily life in the twin-city conurbation of Frankfurt–Slubice is “inseparably interwoven” and that recurring renewals risk normalising a policy that hampers commuters, lorry drivers and cross-border shoppers. Brandenburg’s European Affairs Minister Robert Crumbach echoed the call, saying the checks should end by summer.
![Border-city mayor warns extended Poland–Germany checks must not become permanent]()
While spot inspections currently add an average of 20-45 minutes to peak-hour crossings, logistics companies warn that traffic snarls can ripple across the Berlin–Warsaw supply corridor. Multinationals including Volkswagen and Zalando, which rely on just-in-time deliveries from Polish suppliers, have flagged rising transport costs and driver overtime bills.
For travellers suddenly facing extra paperwork or uncertainty at the German border, VisaHQ can simplify the process by offering quick online documentation checks, appointment scheduling and up-to-date guidance. Their dedicated Germany page (https://www.visahq.com/germany/) is a handy resource for commuters, businesses and tourists who need clarity on entry requirements amid shifting Schengen policies.
Corporate mobility teams should advise employees to carry passports or EU ID cards even for routine commutes and to pad travel schedules. Experts expect the European Commission to scrutinise Germany’s justification, as EU law allows only limited extensions unless “new, serious threats” emerge.
Strasser told Deutsche Presse-Agentur that daily life in the twin-city conurbation of Frankfurt–Slubice is “inseparably interwoven” and that recurring renewals risk normalising a policy that hampers commuters, lorry drivers and cross-border shoppers. Brandenburg’s European Affairs Minister Robert Crumbach echoed the call, saying the checks should end by summer.
While spot inspections currently add an average of 20-45 minutes to peak-hour crossings, logistics companies warn that traffic snarls can ripple across the Berlin–Warsaw supply corridor. Multinationals including Volkswagen and Zalando, which rely on just-in-time deliveries from Polish suppliers, have flagged rising transport costs and driver overtime bills.
For travellers suddenly facing extra paperwork or uncertainty at the German border, VisaHQ can simplify the process by offering quick online documentation checks, appointment scheduling and up-to-date guidance. Their dedicated Germany page (https://www.visahq.com/germany/) is a handy resource for commuters, businesses and tourists who need clarity on entry requirements amid shifting Schengen policies.
Corporate mobility teams should advise employees to carry passports or EU ID cards even for routine commutes and to pad travel schedules. Experts expect the European Commission to scrutinise Germany’s justification, as EU law allows only limited extensions unless “new, serious threats” emerge.
