Poland follows Germany in tightening borders against asylum-seekers
The move, announced by Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk last week, comes amid growing political pressure from far-right groups who accuse Germany of transferring migrants into Poland after they arrive in Western Europe.
The new controls, which began overnight, will initially remain in place for 30 days. However, according to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Administration, Polish authorities have not ruled out extending them.
"Illegal migration is simply a crime," said Interior Minister Tomasz Siemoniak at a news conference. Within hours of the controls taking effect, Polish border guards intercepted what they described as a smuggling attempt by an Estonian national transporting four Afghan migrants across the Lithuanian border, according to the Polish News Agency.
Speaking alongside Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof, Tusk defended the decision, saying it serves not only Poland, but the broader EU: "We're doing this for you as well — for the Germans, for the Dutch, for the French — because this is the European Union border."
Border checks will now be enforced at 13 locations along Poland's 104-kilometer (65-mile) border with Lithuania, and at 52 crossing points along its 467-kilometer (290-mile) border with Germany. Lithuanian officials acknowledged the potential for traffic congestion but said they were prepared to manage the situation. "If traffic begins to build up, we will start managing the flow to minimize disruptions," said Antanas Montvydas, deputy head of Lithuania's State Border Guard Service.
In May, newly elected German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who campaigned on a stricter migration policy, boosted police presence at the German-Polish border and signaled that some asylum-seekers would be turned away. Merz said last week that Germany and Poland are working together to minimize disruptions caused by border checks.
"Border protection against irregular migration is a shared interest of Germany, Poland, and other European neighbors," said Merz's spokesperson, Stefan Kornelius, this week. "We do not want permanent border controls."
The Schengen Area — a visa-free travel zone encompassing most EU countries and non-member Switzerland — allows for easy cross-border movement. However, under EU law, member states may temporarily reintroduce controls in response to serious threats, such as internal security risks. These measures must be exceptional, time-limited, and proportionate.
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda emphasized that such controls should remain temporary. "Poland's decision shows that we are still far from being able to perfectly control the EU's external borders," he said, calling for the swift conclusion of such measures once their objectives are met.
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Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. 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