Poland starts spot checks at German border

7 months ago 9

Authorities in Poland on Monday began carrying out random checks at 52 border crossings at the country's border with Germany in a move contrary to the spirit of the European Union's visa-free Schengen zone.

The comes afterstricter German controls at the Germany-Poland border, which have been stepped up under Chancellor Friedrich Merz's government after they were reintroduced in November 2023.

The Polish border checks, which also apply to Poland's border with Lithuania, are set to run initially until August 5.

Why is Poland patrolling its borders?

Polish Interior Minister Tomasz Siemoniak said Sunday the controls were meant only to combat "illegal immigration" and that Polish and other EU nationals would not face hindrances.

The controls will reportedly focus on buses, minibuses, cars carrying large numbers of passengers and vehicles with tinted windows.

Before Poland's announcement, the German government said it would begin turning back asylum-seekers at the Polish border, leading to claims by Polish nationalist and far-right politicians that Berlin is overwhelming Poland with migrants.

Since May 8, German officials have refused entry to around 1,300 people on the border to Poland, according to the German Interior Ministry, with one in 10 cases involving an asylum request.

EU rules on the Schengen area stipulated that countries are allowed to introduce temporary measures as a "last resort" and "in exceptional situations."