EU wants Germany and the Netherlands to stop border controls

Border controls put increasing pressure on transport sector

The European Commission has called on the Netherlands, Germany and seven other EU member states to phase out current border controls. According to Brussels, the measures cause unnecessary disruptions to traffic and are at odds with European rules around free movement within the Schengen area.

The call comes at a time when carriers have long faced delays, congestion and operational challenges due to controls at various European internal borders.

Temporary measure grows into logistics challenge

Several European countries have introduced border controls in recent years to limit the influx of migrants. The Netherlands started this in December 2024, while Germany introduced controls earlier at its border with the Netherlands, among other places.

Within the European Union, border controls are allowed only under exceptional circumstances and for a limited period of time. The European Commission notes that new European migration measures will come into force later this year and that alternative enforcement methods may be more effective.

This includes mobile biometric checks and targeted police checks instead of permanent border inspections.

Traffic congestion and delays for carriers

For the transport sector, border controls represent a major operational challenge. Especially at the German-Dutch border, controls regularly cause traffic jams, delays and disruptions of transport schedules.

In addition to economic impacts, industry associations say the controls have also led to unsafe traffic situations on busy border corridors. This increases pressure on carriers to plan their trips carefully and include extra space in transit schedules.

Different course in the Netherlands and Germany

Although the European Commission is pushing to phase out the measures, the final decision remains with the member states themselves.

The Netherlands has now announced that it will end border controls by Sept. 30, 2026. Germany has as yet announced no plans to end controls in the short term, leaving uncertainty about the flow on key logistics routes within Europe.

Implications for logistics and supply chains

Delays at internal borders have a direct impact on international supply chains. Time-critical shipments in particular may face longer transit times, higher operational costs and less predictable deliveries.

For companies dependent on daily transport flows between the Netherlands, Germany and other European markets, flexibility in transport planning therefore remains essential.

Targeted support by Neele-Vat

Neele-Vat continuously monitors developments around European border controls and the impact on international road transport corridors. Real-time insight into traffic situations, transit times and route performance enables customers to anticipate potential delays in a timely manner.

Specifically, Neele-Vat supports by:

• Advise alternative routes in case of structural delays at border crossings;
  optimize transportation schedules based on up-to-date traffic and capacity information;
• analyze supply chains for vulnerabilities within international road transport flows;
• Offer multimodal solutions when speed and reliability are under pressure;
• Proactively inform customers of developments that may impact delivery times and transportation costs.

This proactive approach allows organizations to reduce the impact of border controls and continue to organize their logistics processes efficiently.

Want to know what impact border controls have on your European transport flows? Get in touch with your contact at Neele-Vat for up-to-date advice and appropriate logistics solutions.