Warsaw (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Poland announced it will prolong border controls with Germany and Lithuania until April 4, 2026, to combat illegal migration, according to the Interior Ministry’s statement to Reuters on Wednesday.
What role does Germany play in migrant returns?Why are Belgium and the Netherlands reinstating border controls, too?
Poland implemented temporary border controls with Germany and Lithuania in July, similar to other EU nations, to prevent illegal migration.
Since controls resumed, border guard officers have been authorised to stop specific vehicles for inspection. Warsaw states that these controls are crucial for managing uncontrolled migration flows.
What role does Germany play in migrant returns?
The decision to reinstate checks was announced in summer during a heated political debate, primarily centred on the German authorities’ policy of returning illegal migrants to the border, which resulted in them being stranded.
The issue is also connected to the migrant crisis at Poland’s eastern border. Since late 2021, thousands of migrants, primarily from the Middle East and Africa, have tried to cross illegally through Belarus.
Is Belarus orchestrating a migrant crisis with Russia?
Since 2021, Poland has claimed that Belarus and Russia have orchestrated a migrant crisis at its eastern border. Both nations deny any involvement in encouraging migrants to cross.
Warsaw and Brussels describe this as a coordinated effort by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, who is allied with the Kremlin, to destabilise the EU. Many individuals who illegally cross from Belarus into Poland or Lithuania then proceed to wealthier EU countries like Germany.
Why are Belgium and the Netherlands reinstating border controls, too?
Belgium, the Netherlands also reinstated border checks due to public discontent regarding undocumented migration, which has been straining the EU’s Schengen area of passport-free travel. Belgium stated it would be carrying out targeted checks at the border at major entry points, including on the motorway network, bus services, international train services, and intra-Schengen flights from routes experiencing high migration pressure. The stated goal is to combat “irregular migration” or, as some would refer, “asylum shopping.”
On December 9, 2024, the Netherlands initiated temporary border controls with a duration of six months, along its borders with Belgium and Germany, in order to address irregular migration and smuggling of migrants. Border checks are conducted based on risk assessment at border crossing points, international trains, and selected flights.
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