Latest news with #Polish-German
Euronews
10 hours ago
- Politics
- Euronews
Germany's interior minister backs Polish border measures during visit
German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt has praised Poland's border control measures after visiting the Polish-Belarusian border. "Here you can see how effective external border protection is done," he said during a visit with his Polish counterpart Tomasz Siemoniak on Monday, adding that it has had an "enormous impact". Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and others in his government have long argued that Russia and Belarus are deliberately encouraging migrants to cross the border in an attempt to destabilise Poland, an ally of Ukraine, and the European Union. Poland's previous government reacted to the arrival of migrants by building a steel barrier and imposing a state of emergency in 2021. Tusk's administration has recently ramped up measures to curb migration along Poland's heavily fortified border with Belarus. The border is secured by a high steel fence and electronic surveillance equipment. In May, the Polish parliament voted to extend the suspension of asylum applications from Belarus The measure, which has been widely criticised by human rights groups, allows Polish authorities to suspend asylum rights for 60 days at a time. Dobrindt said that it is a problem that Russia and Belarus are trying to use "migration as a weapon" to destabilise Poland, Germany and the European Union. He also expressed support for Poland's recent decision to introduce temporary border controls in response to Germany's tighter checks. Poland implemented border checks on its frontiers with fellow EU member states Germany and Lithuania earlier this month, in what Warsaw said was a step to check migrants more thoroughly amid public concerns over immigration. Warsaw had claimed that Germany was transporting migrants into Polish territory after they reached Western Europe. On Monday, the two interior ministers said that the reciprocal controls on the Polish-German border are temporary and their common goal is to lift them as soon as possible and to focus on protecting the EU's external borders. "Poland is Germany's most important partner within the EU, alongside our French neighbours," Dobrindt said. Germany and Poland, which share a 467-kilometre border, are both part of the visa-free Schengen Area, which typically allows citizens to travel across borders easily for work or pleasure. Member states are allowed to introduce border controls in times of serious threat, according to the EU. Germany first imposed controls on its borders with Poland in 2023 to combat human trafficking and curb irregular migration. After taking office in May, Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz ordered more police to be stationed at Germany's borders and granted them powers to turn away some asylum seekers.
Euronews
2 days ago
- Politics
- Euronews
Anti-immigration demonstrations in more than 80 cities across Poland
Anti-immigration protests organised by the far-right Confederation Libery and Independence party took place in more than 80 cities across Poland, including in Warsaw, Krakow, Poznan, Wroclaw, and Bialystok. Demonstrators demanded the closure of the borders with Lithuania, Ukraine, Belarus and Slovakia. "Enough of the years-long policy of 'let everyone in, and who they are will be determined later'," Krzysztof Bosak, one of Confederation party's leaders, wrote on X. "Polish women and men have the right to be concerned about the level of security in their own homeland," he added. In a speech at the start of the march, Bosak demanded the resignation of Donald Tusk's government, the closure of the borders with Lithuania, Ukraine, Belarus and Slovakia to curb illegal immigration, and the permission for soldiers to shoot at people who cross the border illegally. "Without closing Poland to illegal immigration, without launching a deportation operation, without renouncing political correctness, without equipping the Border Guard and the forces responsible for controlling the legality of residence, and without controlling the labour market, security will gradually deteriorate," he said, calling for a change in policy. The protests come shortly after Poland introduced border controls with Germany and Lithuania, which came into effect on 7 July. On the Polish-German border, controls are in place at 52 places and on the Polish-Lithuanian border at 13. The issue of migration has been widely up for debate, and a contentious topic in Polish politics, particularly as the country has experienced a rise in immigration in recent years. In the first round of the presidential elections held in May, candidates of the far-right performed well, with Slawomir Mentzen of the Confederation Libery and Independence party and Grzegorz Braun of Confederation of the Polish Crown party coming in third and fourth, respectively. Many believe that both candidates' successes were due to their hardline stance on migration. Interior ministers agree on asylum rules On Friday, Poland and five other EU countries, agreed a set of targets for tightening asylum rules. During the meeting hosted by Germany's interior minister, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz admitted that he was "pleased that Poland is carrying out border controls." Last year, Poland saw an increase in asylum applications due to the recurring crisis on its eastern border with Belarus, which has been ongoing since 2021. As a result, the Polish parliament passed a law temporarily suspending the right to apply for asylum for those who crossed the Belarusian border. Both Polish and European leaders have long accused Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko of orchestrating the influx of migrants to destabilise the EU. On Saturday morning, the Ministry of Interior and Administration published statistics on the number of approvals issued for special protection for foreigners on X. "In 2024, we issued 40 per cent fewer approvals for special protection for foreigners than in 2021. This is the result of a better managed system, our operations at the border and more efficient procedures," the post read. "The government is pursuing a responsible and well-considered migration policy, taking care of the stability and security of citizens," it added. Counter demonstrations in many cities Counter-manifestations against the Confederation marches were also held in Warsaw, Katowice, Olsztyn and other cities on Saturday. Demonstrators carried banners with the slogans: "Accept the refugees, delete the fascists," "Action Democracy" and "We defend the right to asylum." "Everyone, regardless of their skin colour and origin, should feel comfortable not only in Poland, but also in Europe," Maria Książak of the International Humanitarian Initiative Foundation said during the demonstration.
Euronews
3 days ago
- Politics
- Euronews
Anti-immigrantion demonstrations in more than 80 cities across Poland
Anti-immigration protests organised by the far-right Confederation Libery and Independence party took place in more than 80 cities across Poland, including in Warsaw, Krakow, Poznan, Wroclaw, and Bialystok. Demonstrators demanded the closure of the borders with Lithuania, Ukraine, Belarus and Slovakia. "Enough of the years-long policy of 'let everyone in, and who they are will be determined later'," Krzysztof Bosak, one of Confederation party's leaders, wrote on X. "Polish women and men have the right to be concerned about the level of security in their own homeland," he added. In a speech at the start of the march, Bosak demanded the resignation of Donald Tusk's government, the closure of the borders with Lithuania, Ukraine, Belarus and Slovakia to curb illegal immigration, and the permission for soldiers to shoot at people who cross the border illegally. "Without closing Poland to illegal immigration, without launching a deportation operation, without renouncing political correctness, without equipping the Border Guard and the forces responsible for controlling the legality of residence, and without controlling the labour market, security will gradually deteriorate," he said, calling for a change in policy. The protests come shortly after Poland introduced border controls with Germany and Lithuania, which came into effect on 7 July. On the Polish-German border, controls are in place at 52 places and on the Polish-Lithuanian border at 13. The issue of migration has been widely up for debate, and a contentious topic in Polish politics, particularly as the country has experienced a rise in immigration in recent years. In the first round of the presidential elections held in May, candidates of the far-right performed well, with Slawomir Mentzen of the Confederation Libery and Independence party and Grzegorz Braun of Confederation of the Polish Crown party coming in third and fourth, respectively. Many believe that both candidates' successes were due to their hardline stance on migration. Interior ministers agree on asylum rules On Friday, Poland and five other EU countries, agreed a set of targets for tightening asylum rules. During the meeting hosted by Germany's interior minister, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz admitted that he was "pleased that Poland is carrying out border controls." Last year, Poland saw an increase in asylum applications due to the recurring crisis on its eastern border with Belarus, which has been ongoing since 2021. As a result, the Polish parliament passed a law temporarily suspending the right to apply for asylum for those who crossed the Belarusian border. Both Polish and European leaders have long accused Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko of orchestrating the influx of migrants to destabilise the EU. On Saturday morning, the Ministry of Interior and Administration published statistics on the number of approvals issued for special protection for foreigners on X. "In 2024, we issued 40 per cent fewer approvals for special protection for foreigners than in 2021. This is the result of a better managed system, our operations at the border and more efficient procedures," the post read. "The government is pursuing a responsible and well-considered migration policy, taking care of the stability and security of citizens," it added. Counter demonstrations in many cities Counter-manifestations against the Confederation marches were also held in Warsaw, Katowice, Olsztyn and other cities on Saturday. Demonstrators carried banners with the slogans: "Accept the refugees, delete the fascists," "Action Democracy" and "We defend the right to asylum." "Everyone, regardless of their skin colour and origin, should feel comfortable not only in Poland, but also in Europe," Maria Książak of the International Humanitarian Initiative Foundation said during the demonstration.
Euronews
13-07-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
Polish FM Sikorski: Anti-immigrant hysteria harms Poland
Poland's foreign minister has condemned racism and anti-Semitism on Saturday, saying they harm Poland. "Anti-immigrant hysteria harms Poland, it awakens the worst demons, and Holocaust denial excludes us from civilised nations", - Sikorski said in a recording published on the X platform. His statement followed a series of incidents in the country, including a statement by far-right MEP Grzegorz Braun in which he proclaimed that "the gas chambers at Auschwitz were fake". "Pilecki did not volunteer for Auschwitz so that now some scoundrel undermines his report for political gain," Sikorski replied. Witold Pilecki, a Polish officer and intelligence agent, let himself get arrested and interned at Auschwitz in 1940 to document what was happening there and escaped from the death camp three years later. Before returning to Poland after the war -- where he was executed by the Communist authorities in 1948 -- he compiled and published his reports on the genocide at Auschwitz. In the recording, Sikorski also recalled incidents in Zamość, where artists from Spain, India, Senegal and Serbia, as well as revellers at the 22nd Eurofolk festival which concluded on Sunday, were insulted and the Municipal Police received reports of a "refugee invasion". "This is not the only such case in the country," Sikorski commented. He also referred to the current situation at the Polish-German border, where members of so-called citizen patrols have been shouting anti-immigrant and anti-German slogans. On 7 July, Poland introduced border controls with Germany and Lithuania in response to growing criticism of Germany's decision to send back thousands of migrants who they claimed had illegally crossed the border back into Poland. "We have the right to control the borders by authorised services. We have the right to know who is legally in Poland. But there is no acquiescence to the escalating campaign of racism and the anti-Semitism it fuels," said the head of Polish diplomacy, adding that as foreign minister, he must take care of Poland's image around the world. "I am proud of Poland. Poland has always been a hospitable country, and Poles and Polish women are better than those who 'rat on strangers and fuel the spiral of hatred,'" the country's top diplomat stressed.
Time of India
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Poland's border checks: Beginning of the end of Schengen?
AP Image When Poland introduced border checks with Germany and Lithuania this week, it wasn't the first time that a Schengen country took such a step. These measures are typically justified as necessary to curb irregular migration, combat human smuggling, or address national security concerns. But for many analysts, it may be one of the clearest signs yet that the European union's borderless travel area, seen as a symbol of integration and common identity, is under increasing strain. According to Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, the controls are temporary and aimed at stopping human trafficking and irregular migration. Yet the move comes just weeks after Germany itself ramped up checks along all its land borders, including with Poland, under the new conservative government of chancellor Friedrich Merz. For many observers here in Brussels, the tit-for-tat measures reflect a deeper shift away from European solidarity and toward national self-interest. What is Schengen? Created in the 1990s, the Schengen Area allows passport-free travel across 29 European countries, covering most of the EU plus several non-members like Norway and Switzerland. It facilitates the free movement of over 450 million people and underpins Europe's single market by eliminating internal border checks for goods, services, and labor. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like An engineer reveals: One simple trick to get internet without a subscription Techno Mag Learn More Undo For businesses, commuters, and travelers alike, Schengen is one of the EU's most practical achievements. In an interview with DW, Birte Nienaber, Associate Professor at the University of Luxembourg, underlined that Europe is seeing a slow erosion of border-free moment in Europe, one frontier at a time. Domino effect already under way Davide Colombi, a migration researcher at the centre for European policy studies (CEPS) based in Brussels, agrees that the recent Polish-German dispute fits a broader European pattern. France has maintained border checks since the 2015 terrorist attacks. Austria first introduced controls on its borders with Slovenia and Hungary in September 2015, at the height of the refugee crisis, and has renewed them every six months since, citing migration pressures and internal security. Slovenia introduced checks with Croatia less than a year after the latter joined Schengen, citing increased migration and concerns over organised crime. And Germany, which had long resisted tightening its internal borders, began expanding them last autumn, a move the European Commission has so far not formally challenged. Under EU law, such checks are only allowed in exceptional circumstances and must be temporary. "These border controls are purely political symbolism, without a real effect of curbing migration," says Professor Nienaber. She emphasizes that with the rise of far-right forces in Europe, populist narratives are gaining grounds across all parties. Centrist leaders face pressure to show "toughness" on migration, and border controls are a visible measure popular with the public. Border symbolism over substance But how effective are they really? Official statistics cast doubt on the pertinence of border checks inside the Schengen area. German police say that in the first month of enhanced border operations this spring, just 160 asylum seekers were turned away. Polish media reports that Germany returned around 1,000 migrants to Poland between May and mid-June, a figure not significantly different from previous years. "Smugglers or those trying to enter irregularly know exactly how to avoid official checkpoints," said migration expert Nienaber. "The controls don't stop them. They only create the illusion of control." Researcher Colombi agreed that such policies are more about optics than outcomes. He underlined that EU member states have so far failed to prove the necessity for the controls in, for instance, curbing migration, or preventing terrorist attacks. The economic cost Meanwhile, border communities, especially in regions like Luxembourg, Austria, and Poland, are already feeling the negative effects: longer wait times, disrupted supply chains, and growing economic stress on cross-border local businesses. A detailed European Parliament study estimated that reinstating internal border checks leads to substantial time losses: 10–20 minutes for cars and 30–60 minutes for heavy vehicles, and costs the transport sector around €320 million — and that's only accounting for delays, not the broader economic fallout. The economic cost is therefore not trivial. Schengen affects the free movement of goods, services, capital and people: the four pillars of the EU single market. Prices could rise, supply chains could slow, and cross-border jobs and businesses could be lost. A Bulgarian logistics association recently estimated border delays previously cost the sector €300 million ($352 million) annually. Since Romania and Bulgaria joined Schengen this year, cross-border traffic has significantly increased and become more efficient. In the first three months of 2025 alone, traffic between the two countries rose by 25 per cent, with over 160,000 vehicles crossing compared to 128,000 in the same period the year before, according to Romania's Road Administration Agency. The average wait times at crossings have dropped from over 10 hours to less than two. For regional hauliers and border towns that rely on smooth trade flows, this has meant faster deliveries and a revived economic outlook. A return to hard borders, experts warn, could undo that progress, hitting not just supply chains, but also the livelihoods of thousands who depend on seamless daily crossings. Schengen legal limits — quietly bypassed? EU law allows internal border checks in exceptional cases: they must be limited to six months with clearly justified renewals. Yet several member states have simply continued extending them. France's controls have been in place almost continuously for nearly a decade. Austria, Denmark, Sweden and now Germany have also operated under long-term exceptions. "We can see that these border checks are becoming permanent in some member states. That was never the intent of the Schengen agreement," says researcher Colombi. He explains that the European Commission has faced criticism for not enforcing limits more robustly, for instance through infringement procedures. This could risks opening the floodgates for others, creating a domino effect. Revising Schengen — or abandoning it? The EU and its leaders are aware of the risks. If internal border checks become permanent, the Schengen system could unravel entirely. This would not only disrupt the free movement of people, goods, services, and capital, key pillars of the EU single market, but also undermine the legal integrity of EU treaties, increase costs for businesses, slow supply chains, potentially erode citizens' trust in the European project itself. The Commission is now working to update the Schengen Borders Code and launch two digital border management tools: the Entry/Exit System (ESS) and the ETIAS, a visa-waiver screening platform. Both are designed to better track non-EU nationals entering the zone and reduce the perceived need for internal checks. The Commission says these reforms represent an evolution of Schengen, not its breakdown. But Colombi argues that if Schengen is to survive, it will need more than legal tweaks or digital tools. Rather, he says, "we need political courage, the rebuilding of mutual trust between member states and enforcement by the European Commission." Above all, the subject of migration should be de-politicized, shifting the public debate away from ineffective measures such as border controls. Both experts are skeptical that this will happen anytime soon. With far-right parties reshaping political narratives in many countries, the pressure to reassert national sovereignty is only growing, Nienaber explains. She warns that if governments continue to use internal border controls as political instruments, rather than last resort security tools, the Schengen Area could soon fall to pieces. What's at stake Should Schengen fall apart, the economic damage could be severe. Reinstated border checks would slow down the flow of goods, disrupt just-in-time supply chains, and increase transport costs, particularly in logistics-heavy sectors like agriculture, retail, and manufacturing. Cross-border workers would face longer commutes, while small businesses in border regions could lose vital customers. For everyday citizens, it could mean longer queues at borders, higher prices in stores, and diminished access to services and job markets across borders. But the symbolic loss could be just as profound, says Colombi: "Schengen is one of the most visible signs of a common European identity and a flag-ship achievement." Should Schengen fall, it's most tangible way to experience the EU as a transnational project for citizens would fall, too. To prevent that, both experts argue that the EU and its member states must recommit to the core idea behind Schengen: that Europeans should be able to move freely, without fear, delay, or political posturing, across their shared continent.
