Since September 2024, controls have been in place at all German internal borders, incurring around 140 million euros in additional costs for the Federal Police by the end of December 2025. The expenses cover overtime, allowances, and operational costs. Left-wing MP Clara Bünger criticizes the measure as expensive symbolic policy.
The border controls introduced in September 2024 at all German internal borders have cost around 140 million euros by the end of December 2025. These "mission-related additional costs" for the Federal Police include overtime, allowances, operation of control points, material consumption, as well as accommodation and meal expenses. This emerges from a response by the Federal Ministry of the Interior to an inquiry by Left-wing MP Clara Bünger, which is available to the RedaktionsNetzwerk Deutschland (RND).
By the end of June 2025, expenses amounted to 80.5 million euros, with an additional 59.5 million euros in the second half of the year. The ministry notes that overtime costs are a "calculated figure" and only become effective if compensatory time off cannot be granted within 12 months. Excluding these overtime costs, actual expenses total 78.2 million euros.
Between August 5 and December 31, 2025, 14,129 people were turned away at the land borders, including 552 asylum seekers. Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) recently extended the controls by another six months beyond March 15.
Clara Bünger, the Left party's spokesperson on refugee policy, described the figures as a "devastating balance." She told RND: "140 million euros in costs for unlawful border controls whose practical effect and legality are highly questionable. We can no longer afford this costly symbolic policy of deterrence." Bünger demanded an immediate end to the controls and opposed restricting access to integration courses.
