Border controls in Lusatia: Jobs in danger - protests announced!

Border controls in Lusatia: Jobs in danger - protests announced!

Görlitz, Deutschland - Today, on July 3, 2025, people at the German-Polish border face new challenges. Poland has decided to introduce border controls to its transitions from this Monday until August 5th. This measure ensures concerned faces at the companies in Lausitz, who fear the predominantly Polish employees. Frank Großmann, head of the IHK office Görlitz/Zittau, reports that there has already been dismissal. Polish employees see themselves heavily polluted for work by long detours of up to 60 kilometers, which is why some give up their places. This situation could endanger the job market in the region, which is strongly dependent on this border work.

More and more companies complain that the economic exchange from border controls suffers. These measures come as part of a nationwide strategy to combat illegal migration, which has been implemented at the borders to Poland for a year. ZDF informs that the controls in the border area between Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Poland enjoy special attention. The federal police have raised a network for surveillance here, which includes checks on coaches and vans.

The balance of these border controls is mixed. While according to the Tagesschau between October 2023 and August 2024, the asylum applications have dropped by around 40 percent due to the increased controls. However, the high cost burden for the federal police and the resulting traffic jams are a major problem.

Frankfurt Mayor René Wilke recognizes the effectiveness of these controls, but sees their negative effects on the quality of life in the border region and the relationships between Germany and Poland. Aleksandra Wypij, a restaurant owner from Slubice, also complains about the long traffic jams that significantly affect the small border trade. More and more voices are wondering whether the economic damage is permanent, while Federal Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser is considering an extension of the controls that were originally supposed to expire in March 2025.

The development remains exciting and everyone involved must adapt to the changed circumstances. It is to be hoped that a solution will be found that takes into account both security interests and economic reality.