Joined CJEU Cases C-368/20 & C-369/20 | Landespolizeidirektion Steiermark & Bezirkshauptmannschaft Leibnitz

Summary:

Compilation of information resources focusing on Cases C-368/20 & C-369/20 from the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), as regards the maximum duration of internal border controls.

Further information:

In the context of the migration crisis affecting the European continent, Austria decided to reintroduce border control at its borders with Hungary and Slovenia from the middle of September 2015. That border control was reintroduced a number of times. For the period between May 2016 and November 2017, Austria relied upon four successive recommendations issued by the Council of the European Union. From November 2017, the country reintroduced border control for a number of successive six-month periods on its own initiative.

On account of this, an individual was checked at the Spielfeld border crossing point when they were entering Austria from Slovenia in August and November 2019. A fine was imposed upon them for refusing to present a passport. Since the individual took the view that those checks and the fine were contrary to the Law of the European Union (EU law) and in particular to the Schengen Borders Code (SBC), they brought proceedings before a Regional Administrative Court. That court had doubts as to whether the SBC permits Austria to reintroduce border control on its own initiative beyond a maximum total duration of six months, and thus referred a number of questions to the CJEU for a preliminary ruling.

The Court ruled on 26 April 2022 that, where there is a serious threat to its public policy or internal security, a Member States may reintroduce border control at its borders with other Member States, but without exceeding a maximum total duration of six months. The Court added that it is only in the event of a new serious threat arising that it can be justified to apply such a measure afresh.

Commentary and Analysis

Verfassungsblog, 25/06/2021: The Guardian is Absent. Legality of Border Controls within Schengen before the European Court of Justice https://verfassungsblog.de/the-guardian-is-absent/

Verfassungsblog, 28/04/2022: Reviving the Promise of Schengen. The Court of Justice’s Judgment in Landespolizeidirektion Steiermark on Internal Border Controls https://verfassungsblog.de/reviving-the-promise-of-schengen/

Verfassungsblog, 05/05/2022: Schengen Restored. The CJEU Sets Clear Limits to the Reintroduction of Internal Border Controls https://verfassungsblog.de/schengen-restored/

European Law Blog, 30/05/2022: Of the legal limits when checking the national geographical ones: Reflections on the Court of Justice’s judgment of 26 April on Austria’s internal border control https://europeanlawblog.eu/2022/05/30/of-the-legal-limits-when-checking-the-national-geographical-ones-reflections-on-the-court-of-justices-judgment-of-26-april-on-austrias-internal-border-control/

eucrim: News, 21/06/2022: CJEU Rules on Reintroduction of Internal Border Checks for Longer than Six Months https://eucrim.eu/news/cjeu-rules-on-reintroduction-of-internal-border-checks-for-longer-than-six-months/

Investigate Europe, 09/09/2022: Dismantling Schengen - half a year at a time https://www.investigate-europe.eu/posts/dismantling-schengen

Odysseus Network: EU Migration Law Blog, 26/06/2023: For a Wiser and Effective Management of Reintroducing Internal Border Controls: Comments on the NW Judgment https://eumigrationlawblog.eu/for-a-wiser-and-effective-management-of-reintroducing-internal-border-controls-comments-on-the-nw-judgment/

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News

Euronews, 28/04/2022: ECJ rules Austria's border checks with Hungary and Slovenia breach EU law — here's why https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2022/04/28/can-eu-countries-introduce-border-checks-between-each-other-this-is-what-the-ecj-says

EurActiv, 17/05/2023: EU Commission threatens legal action against Austria’s Schengen border controls https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/news/eu-commission-threatens-legal-action-against-austrias-schengen-border-controls/

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Official

Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU): CURIA: Case C-368/20 | Landespolizeidirektion Steiermark (Durée maximale du contrôle aux frontières intérieures) https://curia.europa.eu/juris/documents.jsf?num=C-368/20

Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU): CURIA: Case C-369/20 | Bezirkshauptmannschaft Leibnitz (Durée maximale du contrôle aux frontières intérieures) https://curia.europa.eu/juris/documents.jsf?num=C-369/20

European Commission: DG Migration & Home Affairs: Temporary Reintroduction of Border Control https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/policies/schengen-borders-and-visa/schengen-area/temporary-reintroduction-border-control_en

Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU): Press Release No 177/21, 06/10/2021: Advocate General’s Opinion in Cases C-368/20 and C-369/20 Landespolizeidirektion Steiermark https://curia.europa.eu/jcms/upload/docs/application/pdf/2021-10/cp210177en.pdf

Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU): Press Release No 64/22, 26/04/2022: Judgment in Joined Cases C-368/20 Landespolizeidirektion Steiermark and C-369/20 Bezirkshauptmannschaft Leibnitz (Maximum duration of internal border control) https://curia.europa.eu/jcms/upload/docs/application/pdf/2022-04/cp220064en.pdf

Slovenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs: News, 08/11/2022: Slovenia responds to Austria’s temporary reintroduction of border control at the Slovenian border https://www.gov.si/en/news/2022-11-08-slovenias-statement-regarding-the-extension-of-control-on-the-border-with-slovenia-by-the-republic-of-austria/

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