On 11 November, the European Commission received official communication from the Dutch authorities regarding the reintroduction of border controls. These will be active from 9 December 2023 until 8 June 2025. The main rationale for this measure, which aims to combat irregular immigration and migrant smuggling, is available on the Commission’s website.
During the daily press briefing, a Commission spokeswoman stressed that the body will carefully assess the notification received. The measure was announced after the Dutch Minister for Asylum and Migration confirmed the government’s intention to step up checks starting on December 9.
The spokesperson clarified that “the Commission’s position is very clear” regarding the Schengen Borders Code. She explained that reintroductions of controls must be “strictly necessary” and “proportionate”, stressing that such measures should remain an exception, limited in time and justified only in the presence of serious threats to public order or internal security.
This Dutch decision is part of a broader context of growing concerns about border security and management in the European Union. National authorities are trying to balance security concerns with migrants' rights and freedom of movement. With the Netherlands’ more rigorous approach, it is expected that there will be an increased focus on how migration policies are implemented across Europe. The coming weeks will be crucial to understand how this measure will affect not only migration flows, but also relations between member states in shared border management. In a period marked by social and political tensions related to immigration, careful monitoring of decisions and their consequences will be crucial to ensure a balanced and fair response to the current challenges.
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