In a formal opinion issued on 2 June 2026, the European Commission called on France, Germany and seven other Schengen members to begin phasing out the internal border controls they have maintained—often continuously—since the 2015 migration crisis. The opinion, delivered under the amended Schengen Borders Code, is the first time Brussels has used its new legal power to challenge controls that have been in place for more than twelve consecutive months. French authorities currently carry out systematic ID checks at several land crossings with Italy, Spain and Belgium, citing terrorism threats and irregular migration. The Commission acknowledges those concerns, but stresses that such checks must remain “strictly temporary and exceptional.” Instead, it recommends joint police patrols, intelligence-led spot checks and greater use of mobile biometric devices to tackle security risks without hindering the free movement of people and goods.
For companies that move staff and goods across French borders on a daily basis—including manufacturers in Hauts-de-France and the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes logistics sector—the opinion is significant. Truck queues of up to three hours have become common on the A8 and A9 motorways; according to the French road-hauliers’ association FNTR, delays add an average €180 in fuel and labour costs per cross-border trip.
![European Commission urges France to lift long-running Schengen border checks]()
Organizations and individual travelers looking for up-to-date guidance on Schengen entry requirements can streamline their planning through VisaHQ. The platform’s France portal (https://www.visahq.com/france/) aggregates the latest documentation rules, transit regulations and digital application options, and its specialists can provide tailored advice on multi-entry visas, work permits and emergency travel documents—helpful when border protocols change with little notice.
Any easing of checks would therefore reduce costs for supply-chain managers and improve on-time delivery KPIs. Although the Commission’s opinion is non-binding, it raises the political stakes for Paris. Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin has repeatedly renewed the checks for six-month periods, most recently in April. He now has to demonstrate that France is exploring “alternative and mitigating measures,” or risk infringement proceedings that could eventually reach the European Court of Justice. From a mobility-program perspective, HR teams should monitor whether France replaces fixed controls with intelligence-based spot inspections. Employees who make frequent day-trips across land borders may still face selective questioning, so it remains prudent to carry proof of employment and accommodation. However, a gradual return to a fully check-free Schengen regime would simplify commuter passes, temporary assignment planning and just-in-time shipping routes ahead of the 2026 Alpine Winter Games.
For companies that move staff and goods across French borders on a daily basis—including manufacturers in Hauts-de-France and the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes logistics sector—the opinion is significant. Truck queues of up to three hours have become common on the A8 and A9 motorways; according to the French road-hauliers’ association FNTR, delays add an average €180 in fuel and labour costs per cross-border trip.
Organizations and individual travelers looking for up-to-date guidance on Schengen entry requirements can streamline their planning through VisaHQ. The platform’s France portal (https://www.visahq.com/france/) aggregates the latest documentation rules, transit regulations and digital application options, and its specialists can provide tailored advice on multi-entry visas, work permits and emergency travel documents—helpful when border protocols change with little notice.
Any easing of checks would therefore reduce costs for supply-chain managers and improve on-time delivery KPIs. Although the Commission’s opinion is non-binding, it raises the political stakes for Paris. Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin has repeatedly renewed the checks for six-month periods, most recently in April. He now has to demonstrate that France is exploring “alternative and mitigating measures,” or risk infringement proceedings that could eventually reach the European Court of Justice. From a mobility-program perspective, HR teams should monitor whether France replaces fixed controls with intelligence-based spot inspections. Employees who make frequent day-trips across land borders may still face selective questioning, so it remains prudent to carry proof of employment and accommodation. However, a gradual return to a fully check-free Schengen regime would simplify commuter passes, temporary assignment planning and just-in-time shipping routes ahead of the 2026 Alpine Winter Games.
