Border controls between Kehl and Strasbourg: Merz ignores appeal!

Border controls between Kehl and Strasbourg: Merz ignores appeal!

There is discontent in the German-French border area of ​​Kehl and Strasbourg. An appeal made to Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz in mid-May by Kehl's mayor Wolfram Britz and Strasbourg's counterpart Jeanne Barseghian has remained unanswered to this day. In their letter, the two mayors drew attention to the increased border controls that have been carried out by the federal police since May 8, 2025. They called for these controls to be removed and invited the Chancellor to visit to discuss the situation on site. But despite the increasing number of complaints, there has been no response so far Mainpost.

The increased controls not only impact commuters who travel between the two cities every day, but also put a strain on the local economy. Business people in Kehl are observing a decline in customers from Strasbourg, which is causing noticeable losses in the region's economically challenging environment. The mayors Britz and Barseghian have now written again to the French MP Brigitte Klinkert to draw attention to the problem. The background to this new concern is today's 40th anniversary of the Schengen Agreement, which initiated the dismantling of border controls between Germany and France and other European neighbors. Today, 29 member states with around 420 million inhabitants form an important part of the Schengen area Stuttgarter Nachrichten.

Border controls and their effects

The increased border controls that have been in force since the beginning of May not only cause practical discontent, but also affect the everyday mobility of citizens. A frequently used connection is the tram line, which has linked the two cities of Kehl and Strasbourg via a bridge since December 2015. But waiting times and traffic jams at the Europa Bridge are increasing, making the work situation more difficult for many commuters Tagesschau.

Politicians on both sides of the border express their regret at this development. Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) has ordered controls to be intensified and reported an almost 50 percent increase in the number of rejections at the border in a single week. These measures not only affect asylum seekers, but also restrict the freedom of movement of all citizens in the Schengen area and provoke criticism Mainpost.

Return to the origins of the Schengen Agreement?

The political discussion is urgently calling for a return to free travel within Europe. More and more politicians from various EU states are warning of a gradual dismantling of European achievements, especially when it comes to German border controls. Especially with regard to the upcoming anniversary of the Schengen Agreement, voices are being raised calling for an end to the controls. Poland's Interior Minister, Tomasz Siemoniak, emphasized at the celebrations in Schengen that Germany should forego the controls in its own interest. A return to a Schengen area without borders is also being called for in Rhineland-Palatinate and in the Federal Council Tagesschau.

Whether and when a positive development is in sight remains to be seen. In the meantime, those responsible are called upon to find solutions that better meet the needs of people and the economy.