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Canada News.Net
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Canada News.Net
Poland follows Germany in tightening borders against asylum-seekers
SLUBICE, Poland: Poland reinstated border controls with Germany and Lithuania on July 7, following Germany's earlier reintroduction of checks aimed at deterring 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.
07-07-2025
- Politics
Poland reinstates border controls with Germany and Lithuania to discourage asylum-seekers
SLUBICE, Poland -- Poland reinstated border controls on Monday with neighboring Germany and Lithuania following similar German restrictions imposed earlier this year aimed at discouraging asylum-seekers. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, whose government recently survived a confidence vote in parliament, announced the restrictions last week. Pressure has been mounting after far-right groups in Poland have alleged Germany was transporting migrants into Polish territory after they reached Western Europe. The reinstated controls, which began overnight Sunday, will last for an initial period of 30 days, though authorities have not ruled out extending them, according to the Polish Ministry of Internal Affairs and Administration. 'Illegal migration is simply a crime,' Polish Interior Minister Tomasz Siemoniak said Sunday during a news conference. The Polish border with Lithuania, which stretches 104 kilometers (65 miles), will see checks in 13 locations. Poland's border with Germany, 467 kilometers (290 miles) long, will have controls at 52 crossing points. Lithuanian authorities said on Monday they were ready to deal with possible traffic jams at the Polish border. 'If traffic begins to build up, we will start managing the flow ... to minimize disruptions and keep checks as brief as possible,' Antanas Montvydas, deputy head of Lithuania's State Border Guard Service told Lithuania radio. After taking office in May, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who made a tougher migration policy a pillar of his election campaign, ordered more police at the border and said some asylum-seekers trying to enter Europe's biggest economy would be turned away. Last week, Merz said Poland and Germany were in close contact to keep the impact of Germany's border controls 'as low as possible.' The European Union has a visa-free travel area, known as Schengen, that allows citizens of most member states to travel easily across borders for work and pleasure. Switzerland also belongs to Schengen although it is not an EU member. According to the EU, member states are allowed to temporarily reintroduce border controls in cases of a serious threat, like internal security. It says border controls should be applied as a last resort in exceptional situations, and must be limited in time. 'Such measures must undoubtedly be temporary and must achieve results as quickly as possible and be terminated,' Lithuania President Gitanas Nausėda told reporters on Sunday, adding that Poland's decision shows that it is not yet possible to 'ideally control' the external borders. __
The Hindu
07-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Poland reinstates border controls with Germany, Lithuania to discourage asylum-seekers
Poland reinstated border controls on Monday (July 7, 2025) with neighbouring Germany and Lithuania following similar German restrictions imposed earlier this year aimed at discouraging asylum-seekers. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, whose government recently survived a confidence vote in Parliament, announced the restrictions last week. Pressure has been mounting after far-right groups in Poland have alleged Germany was transporting migrants into Polish territory after they reached Western Europe. 'The reinstated controls, which began on Sunday (July 6, 2025), will last for an initial period of 30 days, though authorities have not ruled out extending them,' according to the Polish Ministry of Internal Affairs and Administration. 'Illegal migration is simply a crime,' Polish Interior Minister Tomasz Siemoniak said on Sunday (July 6, 2025) during a news conference. The Polish border with Lithuania, which stretches 104 km (65 miles), will see checks in 13 locations. Poland's border with Germany, 467 km (290 miles) long, will have controls at 52 crossing points. After taking office in May, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who made a tougher migration policy a pillar of his election campaign, ordered more police at the border and said some asylum-seekers trying to enter Europe's biggest economy would be turned away. Last week, Mr. Merz said Poland and Germany were in close contact to keep the impact of Germany's border controls 'as low as possible.' The European Union has a visa-free travel area, known as Schengen, that allows citizens of most member states to travel easily across borders for work and pleasure. Switzerland also belongs to Schengen although it is not an EU member. According to the EU, member states are allowed to temporarily reintroduce border controls in cases of a serious threat, like internal security. It says border controls should be applied as a last resort in exceptional situations, and must be limited in time.
Winnipeg Free Press
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
Poland reinstates border controls with Germany and Lithuania to discourage asylum-seekers
SLUBICE, Poland (AP) — Poland reinstated border controls on Monday with neighboring Germany and Lithuania following similar German restrictions imposed earlier this year aimed at discouraging asylum-seekers. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, whose government recently survived a confidence vote in parliament, announced the restrictions last week. Pressure has been mounting after far-right groups in Poland have alleged Germany was transporting migrants into Polish territory after they reached Western Europe. The reinstated controls, which began overnight Sunday, will last for an initial period of 30 days, though authorities have not ruled out extending them, according to the Polish Ministry of Internal Affairs and Administration. 'Illegal migration is simply a crime,' Polish Interior Minister Tomasz Siemoniak said Sunday during a news conference. The Polish border with Lithuania, which stretches 104 kilometers (65 miles), will see checks in 13 locations. Poland's border with Germany, 467 kilometers (290 miles) long, will have controls at 52 crossing points. After taking office in May, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who made a tougher migration policy a pillar of his election campaign, ordered more police at the border and said some asylum-seekers trying to enter Europe's biggest economy would be turned away. Last week, Merz said Poland and Germany were in close contact to keep the impact of Germany's border controls 'as low as possible.' The European Union has a visa-free travel area, known as Schengen, that allows citizens of most member states to travel easily across borders for work and pleasure. Switzerland also belongs to Schengen although it is not an EU member. According to the EU, member states are allowed to temporarily reintroduce border controls in cases of a serious threat, like internal security. It says border controls should be applied as a last resort in exceptional situations, and must be limited in time. __ Associated Press videojournalist Rafal Niedzielski in Warsaw, Poland, contributed to this report. ___ Follow AP's global coverage of migration at
