Source: European Parliament
In its notification of 25 April 2025 on the prolongation of border control at internal borders the Dutch government has informed the Commission that it is minimising the impact of internal border controls on cross-border traffic as much as possible by conducting them in the form of risk-based spot checks.
The Commission remains in close contact with the Dutch authorities to ensure that this remains the case. The Commission has not received signals to the contrary.
As regards the assessment of the controls’ necessity and proportionality, the Commission will fulfil its obligations under the revised Schengen Borders Code[1] and assess the arguments put forward by the Netherlands in this regard.
In line with the revised Schengen Borders Code, the Commission will now initiate a consultation process with the Member States given the recent notification of a prolongation of the Dutch internal border controls.
Importantly, a reintroduction of internal border control does not affect the right to free movement of EU citizens as they continue to have the right to enter and exit another Member State freely upon presenting a valid identity card/passport and as long as they do not pose a threat to public policy, internal security or public health, as set out in Directive 2004/38/EC[2].
- [1] Regulation (EU) 2016/399 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 March 2016 on a Union Code on the rules governing the movement of persons across borders (Schengen Borders Code), OJ L 77, 23.3.2016, p. 1-52, as recently amended by Regulation (EU) 2024/1717.
- [2] Directive 2004/38/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 on the right of citizens of the Union and their family members to move and reside freely within the territory of the Member States, OJ L 158, 30.4.2004, p. 77-123.