Poland calls for “technical means” for border controls on the border with Germany

In view of the stricter controls at the German borders ordered by the new German government, Poland has warned against disrupting border traffic. He understands the German policy due to the “hot topic” of migration, said Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski on Thursday after the meeting of EU foreign ministers in Warsaw. However, he called for “technical ways” to be found “to minimize the inconvenience for local residents”.

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“The existence of a seamless border has become a matter of course for people on both sides of the German-Polish border,” argued Sikorski. There is hardly any infrastructure for border controls, he said. The controls on the main roads were associated with “great inconvenience” for the people on the ground. Sikorski cited the Polish border with Belarus as an example.
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The new Federal Minister of the Interior, Alexander Dobrindt (CSU), announced further tightened border controls on Wednesday in order to reduce the number of refugees. To this end, more federal police officers are to be stationed at Germany's borders and asylum seekers are to be turned back from now on.

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The German plans have caused displeasure, particularly in the neighboring countries of Poland, the Czech Republic and Austria. At a meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Wednesday, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk argued that it was in the interests of Germany and Poland to maintain “free passage” between the countries. Austrian Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger said in Warsaw that European law must be observed when it comes to border controls.

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Following talks with Sikorski, the new German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul (CDU) assured that Germany would not enforce a stricter migration policy against the will of neighboring Poland. Germany will proceed “step by step”, Wadephul told Deutschlandfunk radio. Steps would be taken “consciously and carefully” and “always in coordination with European friends and colleagues”.