That means internal Schengen checks remain in force, even though the rules treat them as an exceptional tool: limited in time and used only when there is a justified risk to public order or internal security.
The Netherlands: checks extended through September 2026
The Dutch government has extended its temporary border checks until 30 September 2026. The decision is linked to ongoing migration pressure, including a high number of asylum applications, irregular migration, migrant smuggling and so-called secondary movements.
The checks apply to:
- land borders with Belgium and Germany,
- internal Schengen air borders.
The legal basis is the mechanism set out in the Schengen Borders Code, which allows internal border controls to be reintroduced temporarily in exceptional circumstances, provided the measures are proportionate and time-limited.
At the same time, the authorities stress that the current controls are expected to end on 30 September 2026 and are not planned to be extended further in their current form. They are meant to be replaced by an expanded model of routine border supervision under Mobile Security Monitoring (MTV).
Operational shift: more flexibility for enforcement
In parallel, the Netherlands is preparing to adjust how it oversees its internal borders. The Royal Netherlands Marechaussee remains central to operations and, under the MTV system, is set to receive broader room to act.
The changes focus mainly on raising the limits for checks, which should enable:
- more flexible deployment based on risk levels,
- more intensive checks guided by operational analysis,
- a wider scope of transport checks, including aircraft, trains, ships, coaches and cars.
MTV checks are carried out within a zone of up to 20 kilometres from internal borders.
Between December 2024 and March 2026, these measures resulted in:
- entry being refused to 600 foreign nationals,
- 270 people being detained, including cases involving forged documents and people smuggling.
Switzerland: short-term checks linked to the G7 summit
Switzerland is also turning to temporary internal border controls. The measures will run from 10 to 19 June 2026 and are directly connected to the G7 summit in Évian, France, scheduled for 15 to 17 June 2026.
The checks will cover:
- land borders with France,
- the border section on Lake Geneva,
- with particular focus on the Lake Geneva region.
According to the notification, the controls are preventive in nature and form part of the security arrangements for an international-level event.
Italy keeps checks in place for longer
Other Schengen countries are maintaining similar measures as well. Italy has extended its temporary controls on the land border with Slovenia until 18 December 2026. In its notification to the European Commission, Italy points to a continued risk of terrorist networks exploiting migration routes, the tense situation in the Middle East and Ukraine, and persistently high levels of irregular migration. Italian services also highlight the activity of organised groups involved in migrant smuggling and human trafficking along the so-called Balkan route.
