Polish authorities have initiated random checks at 52 border crossings with Germany, responding to stricter controls imposed by Germany under Prime Minister Friedrich Merz. This move is seen as a challenge to the Schengen zone’s visa-free spirit, with checks also affecting the border with Lithuania, set to run until August 5.
Polish Home Minister Thomas Siemoniak stated the checks aim to combat illegal immigration, asserting that EU citizens will not face delays. The focus is on vehicles carrying multiple passengers, particularly buses and minibuses. Siemoniak emphasized the necessity of checks, citing a recent arrest linked to illegal immigration efforts.
German officials have begun returning asylum seekers at the Polish border, prompting concerns from Polish nationalists about being overwhelmed by immigrants. Siemoniak warned that if Germany eases its controls, Poland would follow suit.
During a press conference, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk highlighted the checks as a collective European initiative, also referencing the EU’s eastern border with Belarus, which has been implicated in immigration destabilization efforts.
Since May 8, around 1,300 individuals have been denied entry into Germany from Poland, with a significant portion involved in asylum claims. German officials, including Foreign Minister Johann Wadehulu, advocate for a unified EU response to illegal immigration, stressing the issue’s impact on all member states.
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