Border conflict: Poland threatens controls - Germany under pressure!

Border conflict: Poland threatens controls - Germany under pressure!

Vorpommern-Greifswald, Deutschland - In the past few days, the situation around the border controls between Germany and Poland has continued to worry. The authorities on both sides are required to find solutions to cope with the problems at the border. The police are currently conducting sample-like checks on the German-Polish border in the Vorpommern-Greifswald district. The controls are part of the German measures that have been in use since October 2023 to combat irregular migration, such as Deutschlandfunk

Poland Interior Minister Tomasz Siemoniak has now signaled that the neighboring state would be willing to forego planned entry controls, but only on the condition that Germany will initially cancel its controls. From next Monday, July 7, 2025, Poland plans to introduce their own controls at the border, which should run by August 5. These measures are a direct reaction to German border controls, which Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) ordered in May in order to reject asylum seekers at the border. These developments have also caused the concern of Brandenburg's interior minister René Wilke, who warned of a "ping-pong game", in which rejected people could be sent back and forth between the two countries. The discussion about it is highly up to date, to be felt on the traffic disruptions on Autobahn 12, such as Tagesschau noted.

border controls in focus

The border controls are not only a domestic topic, but also affect bilateral relationships between Germany and Poland. Prime Minister Dietmar Woidke (SPD) has already searched for solutions to defuse the traffic situation and, among other things, suggests a third lane on Autobahn 12 for the controls. There is already large traffic jams on the Polish side, which underlines the urgency of the topic. Here the Chamber of Commerce and Industry demands a quick need for action to minimize the economic effects.

In addition, Siemoniak EU Commissioner Magnus Brunner informed about the developments, and he accepted Poland's argument. The complexity of the situation is reinforced by the new EU regulations. In April 2024, the EU Parliament decided a new procedure for asylum decisions that are to be applied immediately for people who have entered irregularly. The goal is to be a faster assessment of asylum applications, especially if national security or public order is endangered, so Europarl .

outlook and challenges

How it goes on remains to be seen. Communication between the two countries is essential to avoid further tensions. A uniform acceptance to combat irregular migration, which takes into account both the border situation and the humanitarian aspects of asylum law, could be the right way. In any case, those responsible will face great challenges in the coming days and weeks to find a solution that is portable for both sides.