Poland has reinstated border controls on its borders with Germany and Lithuania, amid a growing crisis over asylum-seekers. The move follows similar restrictions imposed by Germany earlier this year, which aims to discourage migrants from seeking asylum in the EU.
The Polish government, led by Prime Minister Donald Tusk, announced the decision after far-right groups alleged that Germany was transporting migrants into Polish territory. The controls will be enforced for an initial 30-day period, but authorities have not ruled out extending them.
According to reports, the border guard has already discovered an alleged smuggling operation at one of the new checkpoints, with an Estonian citizen attempting to bring four Afghan nationals across the Lithuanian border.
The Polish government insists that the measures are necessary to prevent illegal migration. “Illegal migration is a crime,” said Interior Minister Tomasz Siemoniak. The decision has also been backed by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who said that border controls were needed to protect against irregular migration.
However, Lithuania’s authorities have expressed concerns about the impact on traffic flow and potential disruptions. “If traffic begins to build up, we will start managing the flow… to minimize disruptions and keep checks as brief as possible,” said Antanas Montvydas, deputy head of Lithuania’s State Border Guard Service.
The European Union has a visa-free travel area that allows citizens to travel across borders for work and pleasure. However, member states are allowed to temporarily reintroduce border controls in cases of internal security threats. The move by Poland is seen as a response to the growing crisis over asylum-seekers and efforts to prevent irregular migration.
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Source: https://apnews.com/article/migration-germany-poland-lithuania-border-checks-bf4ae383d22b5a530e82035cf116132c