Overview

• Since July 7 reciprocal spot checks by Germany and Poland have slowed cross-border traffic, causing kilometer-long jams on the A12 near Frankfurt (Oder) for holiday travelers and freight.
• The Police Union warns that throughput controls are inevitable in the holiday season and urges deployment of mobile or container-based checkpoints equipped with drone support to reduce bottlenecks.
• Bundespolizei officers face increased workloads as Poland has accepted fewer migrants returned by Germany, leaving German officers to process and hold rejected individuals.
• Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt’s ministry is reviewing flexible control methods with the Bundespolizei; Brandenburg’s leadership is evaluating adding a third A12 lane to alleviate congestion.
• Temporary checks will remain in place through August 5, with EU-wide Schengen reforms postponed until mid-2026 to underscore pressure on migration management.