Tit for tat: Poland introduces border controls with Germany

Commuters encounter double border controls

Commuters encounter double border controls, Germany's 2023 border controls, Suspicious vehicles stopped, Military involvement, Tense German-Polish relations, Heavy loads, Unanswered questions, Clear rules required, "Ping-pong game”, No problems so far, Unwanted asylum seekers, Tried but not practised, A test for the EU, Economic concerns, Polish objections, Polish extremists seek out migrants

Poland's new border controls, designed to stop unwanted migrants entering their country from Germany and Lithuania, have come into force, acting as a deterrent for migrants and a nuisance for commuters, as Wirtschaftswoche writes.

Germany's 2023 border controls

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Germany has been conducting random border checks since October 2023 to curb irregular migration from Poland – checks which have been intensified in recent weeks. Now, the Polish government has responded in kind.

Suspicious vehicles stopped

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According to a report by Merkur, the Federal Police have detected a total of 7,960 unauthorized entries into Germany since May 8, immediately turning back 6,193. According to the Interior Ministry, of these, an estimated 1,300 have been turned back at the Polish-German border alone.

Military involvement

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If someone is thought to look suspicious coming into Germany, they are brought into a reception center in Eisenhüttenstadt. Meanwhile, in Poland, the new checks will be carried out by the border guard, the military police, the homeland security service, and the police.

Tense German-Polish relations

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According to the Polish authorities, "The controls are to target those involved in the illegal smuggling of migrants across the border. Ordinary travelers have nothing to fear."

Heavy loads

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The Poles are primarily targeting minibuses, cars with large passenger loads, and vehicles with tinted windows –potential smugglers, as reported by Der Spiegel.

Unanswered questions

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The new border controls do, however, pose potential bilateral problems: what happens to those detained? Who will cover the costs, and how can thousands of commuters avoid being affected by the controls?

Clear rules required

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“We need clear commitments as to when we may and must reject people, and this must also be agreed with neighboring countries so that it is a practicable procedure,” said Andreas Roßkopf, head of the Federal Police Union, to the Rheinische Post.

"Ping-pong game”

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However, CSU politician Alexander Dobrindt also emphasized that border controls are a temporary measure necessary to rethink migration. The aim is to deter migration. The Polish controls are initially scheduled to end on August 5.

No problems so far

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Dobrindt does not foresee any risk of the "ping-pong" game that Roßkopf speaks of. The Interior Minister emphasized on Deutschlandfunk the effective cooperation between the Federal Police and the Polish border guards.

Unwanted asylum seekers

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Problems do appear to have been rare so far, as reported by Tagesschau. In May, Poland denied entry to two Afghans who had illegally entered Brandenburg near Guben to apply for asylum. They were subsequently taken to the reception center in Eisenhüttenstadt.

Tried but not practised

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Talking to the Augsburger Allgemeine newspaper, Roßkopf complained that technology for border control was tested in 2019, but never implemented. Mobile checkpoints, modern camera systems, drones, and fast mobile vehicles, both civilian and uniformed, could have been put in place some years ago.

A test for the EU

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The border controls will show how united Europe truly is, according to Logistik-Aktuell. Roßkopf believes that the German side could also use the proven technology to conduct controls, saving on personnel, which is already in short supply.

Economic concerns

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German-Polish business associations and chambers of commerce have raised concerns over the controls: 14,000 commuters cross the German-Polish border and may now encounter double checks, as Wirtschaftswoche reports.

Polish objections

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Even before the controls came into effect, there was a demand in some Polish border regions for a more fluid border crossing, including a third lane — a so-called "fast lane"— for certain travelers and the movement of goods.

Polish extremists seek out migrants

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For some time now, Polish right-wing extremist patrols have been arbitrarily stopping vehicles at border crossings, asking passersby for documents, and searching for migrants. Poland's President and right-wing PiS politician Andrzej Duda (pictured) thanked the self-appointed vigilantes, as reported by Tagesschau. However, these individuals are a thorn in the side of more moderate Prime Minister Donald Tusk.