SPD incurs border control costs and commends Dobrindt for his efforts

In the discourse over expenditures for border security, both the SPD and CDU support the stance of Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) and the expenses associated with enhanced border controls.

, and ASMedia

2025 September 1 . 10:59 PM

2 min read

SPD announces expenses for border controls and commends Dobrindt for these measures

SPD incurs border control costs and commends Dobrindt for his efforts

Germany's Border Control Costs Spark Debate Over Overtime Pay

The ongoing debate about border control costs in Germany has taken a new turn, with concerns about overtime pay for officials involved in border controls coming to the forefront. By the end of June 2025, the total cost of border controls reported by the Federal Ministry of the Interior amounted to a significant 80.5 million euros[1].

At the heart of the debate is the overtime pay for officials working at the borders. With the extension of border controls beyond September 2025, officials have been working extended hours to manage increased deportations and stricter asylum procedures. This has resulted in elevated personnel costs, including overtime, as confirmed by Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt[2].

The SPD and CDU have defended these expenditures, emphasizing the importance of these controls for security. However, the Greens have provided critical voices against the costs[1]. SPD parliamentary group's interior policy spokesman, Sebastian Fiedler, has stated that the overtime can only be truly paid out if within a year the overtime is not offset by leave[3].

Fiedler further considers the costs for additional border controls, totalling 37.9 million euros, as a "fictitious figure" due to the overtime of the officials[4][5]. He stated this to the "Tagesspiegel" (Friday edition)[6]. The majority of these costs are attributed to the overtime of officials, according to Fiedler[4][5].

The extension of border controls aims to reduce illegal migration but requires continued resource-intensive staffing at borders, thereby sustaining high overtime pay and operational costs[2]. Despite the controversy, the government coalition supports continuing strict border controls and justifies the costs as necessary for security[1][2].

No detailed breakdown explicitly isolating overtime pay amounts is publicly disclosed. However, the scale of border control operations indicates that overtime costs are a key element in the ongoing financial debate about immigration and border security management in Germany.