Germany is to impose temporary border controls along its border with France in the runup to the Paris Olympics starting on July 26, Interior Minister Nancy Faeser announced in Berlin on Sunday.
The move is being undertaken in cooperation with the French authorities with the aim of providing greater security to the Olympics, which end on August 11. The European Commission is to be notified shortly.
By contrast, checks introduced along the borders to Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg imposed during the European Football Championships will be lifted on Friday. Checks will then revert to dragnet controls with targeted checks, as in the past.
Border controls continue to be in place along Germany's borders with Austria, Switzerland, the Czech Republic and Poland with the aim of countering irregular migration and combating people-trafficking.
Faeser rejected calls from the opposition and from the liberal FDP, a junior member of Chancellor Olaf Scholz's three-party coalition, for retaining stricter controls along all borders.
This would have serious consequences for commuters, travellers and business, she said. It would also need to be justified under European law, which stipulates that there be a serious threat to public order or domestic security.
Germany and all its immediate neighbours are members of the Schengen Area, which guarantees free movement across most borders within the European Union.