Brussels/Frankfurt (Oder), 2025-09-11 — Twenty months after WhizzBang’s initial call for stronger cross-border enforcement of civil liberties, the situation facing expatriates has further deteriorated. In particular, unlawful border controls at the German frontier have intensified, creating growing frustration and hardship for many of the expatriates WhizzBang represents.

Despite clear EU rules guaranteeing freedom of movement and non-discrimination within the single market, expatriates report daily disruptions, almost delays, and uncertainty caused by these controls. The impact is not limited to inconvenience: it undermines trust in the EU’s legal framework and creates tangible barriers for workers, students, and families who depend on seamless cross-border mobility.

“Expats across our network increasingly turn to us with complaints about arbitrary checks and mounting obstacles at borders. The German-Polish border is one of the worst affected areas, but this is part of a broader problem threatening the integrity of the single market,” stated Iwona Szczeblewski, Chair of WhizzBang Viadrina and of head of WhizzBang AISBL.

WhizzBang AISBL strongly urges the European Commission to take decisive action against illegal border practices that violate EU law and contradict the principles of free movement. The Commission must move beyond recommendations and deploy effective enforcement tools to protect the rights of European citizens and expatriates alike.

As an independent European network committed to expatriate consumer and data protection, WhizzBang will continue to monitor and document any violations. We remain steadfast in our appeal for immediate measures that restore legal certainty, uphold the EU treaties, and guarantee that expatriates can live, work, and study across borders without unlawful hindrance.