Poland has temporarily reintroduced controls at its borders with Germany and Lithuania. The Polish border police, supported by the national police and military, are checking the movement of people and vehicles to combat illegal migration. The measure, announced last week by Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk in response to similar actions taken by Berlin, came into effect on Monday, July 7, reports IPN.
The pressure on Tusk has intensified after far-right groups in Poland accused Germany of transporting migrants onto Polish territory. “We remain supporters of freedom of movement in Europe, but this must be conditioned by the common will of all neighbors, by symmetrical and united actions, in order to minimize the uncontrolled flow of migrants across our borders,” declared Donald Tusk, as quoted by Euronews.
The Prime Minister of Warsaw justified his decision, stating that Poland’s patience has run out, in the context where the unilateral measures taken by Germany have generated tensions and a “feeling of asymmetry” among Polish citizens. According to Tusk, the purpose of border controls is “to effectively stop the unjustified return of migrants from Germany.”
In recent weeks, the German-Polish border has become a subject of controversy, especially after the German government’s decision to tighten migration policies. Nationalist activist Robert Bakiewicz has established a so-called “civil police” to defend the border, writes Deutsche Welle.
The controls have been introduced for a period of 30 days, but the authorities do not exclude a possible extension. The 467-kilometer border with Germany is monitored at 52 crossing points, while the 104-kilometer border with Lithuania is supervised at 13 points, Europa Liberă reports.