Key Takeaways
- German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt faces growing EU pressure to end internal border checks, but refuses, citing security.
- The European Commission and several member states argue the checks violate Schengen rules and lack justification.
- A new Hindu temple opens in Berlin after 20 years; EU court rules German asylum benefit cuts unlawful; Lufthansa jet tips at Frankfurt.
Germany under fire over Schengen border checks
German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt is facing mounting pressure from European partners over his refusal to lift internal border controls within the Schengen Area. At a meeting of EU interior ministers in Luxembourg, Home Affairs Commissioner Magnus Brunner urged Berlin to begin phasing out the measures, insisting that “Schengen must function.”
Luxembourg’s foreign minister, Léon Golden, went further, calling for the controls to be suspended immediately. Dobrindt, however, rejected the criticism, arguing the checks remain “effective” and necessary. He maintained that stronger protection of the EU’s external borders must come first before any discussion of easing internal controls.
The European Commission has also questioned Germany’s justification, stating that Berlin has not provided sufficient evidence to support measures that deviate from the principle of free movement. Under Schengen rules, such controls are only permitted in exceptional circumstances and as a last resort.
Criticism has also come from within Germany. Green Party politicians accused Dobrindt of undermining European unity and misallocating police resources.
Nine Schengen countries continue to operate border checks, despite calls from Brussels to end them. Germany has maintained controls, in varying forms, since 2015.
New Hindu temple opens in Berlin after 20-year journey
A new Hindu temple has opened in Berlin’s Neukölln district after more than two decades of planning and construction, marking a significant milestone for the city’s growing Hindu community. The Sri Ganesha Temple, located on Hasenheide near Hermannplatz, will welcome visitors from this weekend, with a series of religious ceremonies currently taking place to formally consecrate the site. The highlight will be Sunday’s inauguration ritual, when the temple’s 17-metre tower will be blessed with water from the Spree and the Ganges.
After years of preparation, actual construction work on the project began in 2010 and was funded entirely through donations, with total costs exceeding €1 million. Despite the official opening, some elements – including the final placement of deity statues – are still being completed. The richly decorated temple, featuring a gold-plated tower and ornate blue façade, is one of the largest of its kind in Europe. It is the second Hindu temple in Berlin, reflecting the steady growth of the city’s Hindu population.
EU court rules German asylum benefit cuts unlawful
Germany’s policy of sharply cutting benefits for rejected asylum-seekers violates EU law, the bloc’s highest court has ruled in a significant judgment with wider implications across Europe. The European Court of Justice found that essential support, including clothing and basic household items, cannot be withdrawn even after an asylum claim has been rejected. Judges stressed that such provisions are among the “most basic needs” required to ensure human dignity and protect both physical and mental health.
The case centred on an Afghan asylum-seeker awaiting transfer from Germany to Romania, who had been left with only food, shelter and healthcare under rules introduced in 2024. Critics had described the system as reducing support to little more than “bed, bread and soap.” The court made clear that EU law requires a minimum standard of living, including some financial support to enable participation in social life. Campaigners welcomed the ruling, saying it reinforces fundamental rights across the bloc.
However, its long-term impact remains uncertain. A new EU migration pact, due to take effect shortly, may allow member states to reduce certain benefits – potentially limiting the ruling’s practical effect.
Lufthansa Boeing jet tips onto its nose at Frankfurt airport
A Lufthansa Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner tipped onto its nose at Frankfurt Airport on Thursday, injuring several staff, the German airline said. The incident occurred at 12:45 pm just before passengers boarded the plane which was scheduled to fly to Los Angeles. “The aircraft’s nose gear unexpectedly retracted while it was parked,” a spokeswoman for the airline told AFP.
Cabin crew and ground staff were on board and several were injured and received medical treatment, the airline said. Another Lufthansa spokesperson told AFP on Thursday evening that the wounded, which included two of its crew members, sustained only light injuries. They were taken to hospital to receive treatment. The flight to Los Angeles was cancelled. “Experts are currently on site and inspecting the aircraft,” Lufthansa said on Thursday. The plane was expected to be moved to a hangar “where further inspections will take place before the aircraft is repaired,” the airline added. According to the Aerotelegraph website, the damaged jet is only one year old and was delivered to Lufthansa in January.
One in three German inventions now in foreign ownership
Nearly one in three inventions developed in Germany has been transferred to foreign ownership, highlighting concerns over the country’s declining innovative edge. Research by the German Economic Institute (IW) found that around 189,000 transnational patents filed by German inventors between 2000 and 2022 are now held by overseas companies. Of these, just under a third belong to owners in the United States, while about 11 percent have gone to Switzerland.
The rise of Chinese ownership has been particularly notable. Some 11,300 German-developed patents are now held by Chinese entities – up from virtually none at the start of the millennium. While analysts emphasise that cross-border patent ownership is part of normal global competition, the IW warned of a growing imbalance. It argued that strategic acquisitions by Chinese firms, combined with limited access for foreign investors in China, raise concerns for Europe. The study also points to a broader decline in Germany’s innovation capacity, with its global share of transnational patents falling significantly over the past two decades, partly due to underinvestment in research and development.