Avoiding Traffic Congestion through Elimination of Checkpoints in Brandenburg and Lubuskie
** revamped version**
Hey there! Brandenburg's Chief, Dietmar Woidke (SPD), is firing off a request to the federal government to swiftly take action and prevent traffic jams caused by border controls on the A12 highway. Following a meeting with the head of Lubuskie, Poland, Woidke announced that he'll petition Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) and Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) to speed up the third lane addition on the German section of the A12 "pronto." At present, border controls on the A12 are causing backups between Frankfurt (Oder) and Swiecko.
Woidke anticipates the June 9 agreement between Dobrindt and the Polish Minister Siemoniak to be implemented to minimize the effect of the controls. "I think we can whip this project into shape pretty quickly, but it's the federal government's responsibility to get it done," Woidke declared. The border controls need to be managed in a way that does not obstruct the economy or disrupt coexistence with traffic jams stretching miles.
The Lubuskie Head Warns of a Barrier
Jablonski, the leader of the partner region, issued a cautionary statement, addressing a potential snag. "This is a massive threat to our coexistence, our cooperation, our development, our mutual trust, and ultimately, the trust of the citizens on both sides," he stated, emphasizing the need to remove this obstacle. Jablonski views the border controls on the German side as a mistake.
After assuming office, the federal interior minister ordered more rigorous border controls, which included turning asylum seekers away at the border. This directive persists despite an emergency court decision by Berlin.
Woidke: Strengthen EU's External Borders
Pending the intensity of the border situation, Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk is considering instituting controls at the border with Germany. Jablonski sees Tusk's announcement as a sign of reluctance about border controls on the German-Polish border.Brandenburg's leader hopes that border controls will not be necessary in the future and the situation will ease. "The border controls are short-term," said Woidke. They must be maintained "until we have control over who is crossing the European Union's external borders." "I truly hope that the European Union will offer additional support to Poland in this area." He emphasized, regarding Lubuskie: "We stand together in the common struggle against illegal immigration."
Woidke champions expanding rail connections to Poland, particularly the former Ostbahn from Berlin to Küstrin and further eastward. The Ostbahn is essential for the region's economic development and to foster deeper connections with Poland. "We will work to ensure that the train connections are expanded," Woidke declared. He also expressed support for recurring German-Polish rail summits. The Berlin-Küstrin line and the route towards Poland currently lack electrification and, in some areas, are single-track on the German side.
Brandenburg and the partner region of Lubuskie aim to intensify their alliance, which has spanned 25 years. Woidke and Jablonski signed a declaration, continuing the original declaration from 2000. The focus is on collaboration on matters related to school and leisure exchanges, digitization, green energy, artificial intelligence, and mobility.
- The ongoing war-and-conflicts and ensuing migration have led to a need for policy-and-legislation in dealing with border controls, as seen in Brandenburg's request to swiftly implement measures to avoid traffic congestion on the A12 highway, caused by border checks.
- The politics surrounding crime-and-justice have become increasingly evident with the Federal Interior Minister's decision to enforce stricter border controls, despite an emergency court decision by Berlin, indicating a division in approach.
- General news from the EU region indicates that the European Union's external borders require strengthening, as stated by Brandenburg's Chief, Dietmar Woidke, to manage migration effectively and ensure smooth coexistence and economic development, while simultaneously advocating for a deeper cooperation through initiatives like expanding rail connections, such as the Ostbahn.
