Poland refuses admittance to 24 individuals hailing from Germany. - Germany's Group of 24 Denied Entry by Poland
In a move to maintain strict border control and respond to similar measures taken by Germany, the Polish government has reinstated temporary border checks at the German and Lithuanian borders. This decision, made by the centrist-left government led by Prime Minister Donald Tusk, marks a shift away from complete border openness and aligns with a broader European trend of tightening migration controls.
Over the past week, Poland has been rigorously screening around 67,000 people and over 28,500 vehicles at the German-Polish border, and approximately 40,000 people and 19,500 vehicles at the Lithuanian-Polish border. As a result of these checks, 24 individuals coming from Germany and 15 individuals at the border with Lithuania were denied entry.
In addition, eight smugglers were arrested at the border with Lithuania, but no specific number or details were provided. Moreover, 19 migrants were returned to Lithuania under a readmission agreement.
The Polish border guard spokesperson, Konrad Szwed, announced the border checks, which are being carried out continuously at 13 crossings with Germany and 3 with Lithuania. The news about the border checks was reported by the news agency PAP in Warsaw.
Germany, too, has been enforcing stricter border controls, extending them with Poland due to concerns over irregular migration and organized crime. German authorities have rejected asylum claims from migrants entering via another EU country, which partly explains the increased pressure on the Polish border.
This situation has caused tensions, with Poland’s president Andrzej Duda accusing Germany of pushing migrants back into Poland and calling on the Polish government to prevent this influx. He emphasized that Poland will not resolve Germany’s migration problems for them.
Both countries acknowledge shared challenges relating to far-right political issues and migration, and Germany views the problem as its own. This complex bilateral dynamic reflects the ongoing efforts by Poland and Germany to manage irregular migration in 2025.
- In light of heightened border controls by Germany and strained relations over the issue of immigration, the community policy being implemented by the Polish government includes strict border checks, aligning with broader European trends in tightening migration controls.
- In addition to the reinstated border checks, the Polish government's employment policy now includes strategies to address organized crime and human trafficking, given the increase in smuggler arrests and migration return agreements with other countries such as Lithuania.
