German border controls that began in September 2024 at all EU internal borders in the country cost 140 million EUR by the end of December of last year, according to a response from the federal interior ministry to a parliamentary question asked by Left‑party Bundestag member Clara Bünger. The newspapers of the “Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland” reported on the ministry’s answer.
The 140 million euros represent the Bundespolizei’s “expenditure‑related additional costs” for overtime and related allowances, for running the border‑control stations, material consumption, as well as for accommodation and catering of the officers involved.
By the end of June 2025 the ministry had already recorded costs of 80.5 million EUR. In the second half of the year an additional 59.5 million EUR was added, bringing the total to 140 million EUR. The ministry says that the overtime costs are a “computational figure”; they would only become cash‑effective if the officers were not granted annual leave to compensate for the overtime. When that overtime component is excluded, the recorded costs amount to 78.2 million EUR.
Between 5 August and 31 December 2025, a total of 14 129 people were reportedly turned back at German national borders, including 552 asylum seekers.
In the RND interview, Clara Bünger described the figures as a “devastating balance”: “140 million euros of cost for unlawful border controls, whose practical effect and legality are highly questionable. Such expensive symbolic deterrence is no longer affordable”. She urged an immediate end to the costly and unlawful controls, arguing that restricting access to integration courses should not mask a lack of budgetary resources.
