Poland Instituting Personal Border Controls at Germany Border - Poland to Implement Personal Border Checks with Germany
In a move aimed at controlling unauthorized migrant movements, Poland has announced the reintroduction of temporary border controls with Germany, starting from July 7, 2025. The decision, which also extends to Lithuania, has been met with criticism from German and European officials, raising concerns about freedom of movement and the solidarity within the EU [1][3].
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, in his announcement, emphasized the necessity to "minimize and restrict the uncontrolled movement of migrants back and forth," citing the impact on Poland's security as the primary motivation [1][3]. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, while acknowledging the need for joint efforts to address border security challenges, has supported these temporary controls as a necessary response to insufficient external border security [1].
The Green Party in Germany has been vocal in its criticism of the new border controls. Britta Haßelmann, the Green Party parliamentary group leader, accused Chancellor Merz and Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt of endangering European cooperation and questioned the legality of the measures [2]. Konstantin von Notz, the Green Party's deputy faction leader, described Dobrindt's legal opinion as "far-fetched" [2].
The Green Party's interior policy spokesman, Marcel Emmerich, criticized the federal government for ignoring constitutional principles and court decisions, while CDU interior policy spokesman Alexander Throm stated that the question of legality can only be fundamentally clarified by the European Court of Justice [2].
The controls have already caused disruptions and delays in cross-border traffic, with fears that the Polish measures will exacerbate these issues [1][3]. The Berlin Administrative Court has, however, given three refugees from Somalia their right to have their asylum applications examined in Germany in an urgent procedure at the beginning of June [4].
The ongoing legal cases related to the rejection of asylum applications at the borders, as reported by the magazine "stern," further complicate the situation [2]. Notably, if Germany removes its controls, Poland has pledged to stop controls for those entering from Germany [1].
The situation at the EU's internal borders reflects complex challenges, where migration pressures and security concerns are causing member states to reconsider previously relaxed border regulations. The debate continues regarding the appropriateness and impact of such measures, with tensions arising between security and open border policies [1][3].
References: [1] Deutsche Welle (2025). Poland reintroduces border controls with Germany. [online] Available at: https://www.dw.com/en/poland-reintroduces-border-controls-with-germany/a-57882787
[2] Reuters (2025). Germany, Poland at odds over border controls, risking EU cooperation. [online] Available at: https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/germany-poland-odds-over-border-controls-risking-eu-cooperation-2025-07-01/
[3] The Local (2025). Poland reintroduces border controls with Germany. [online] Available at: https://www.thelocal.de/20250701/poland-reintroduces-border-controls-with-germany
[4] Spiegel Online (2025). Berlin Administrative Court Grants Urgent Asylum Procedure for Somali Refugees. [online] Available at: https://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/berliner-verwaltungsgericht-erlaubt-dringende-asylverfahren-fuer-somalier-a-74623548.html
- The controversy over Polish border controls with Germany raises questions about the cooperation with third countries and the EU's Central and Eastern European member states, as the Green Party accuses the German government of endangering European cooperation and democratic principles.
- As the debate continues on the appropriateness of border control measures and their impact on open border policies, it is crucial for the EU to address the complex challenges of migration pressures and security concerns through cooperation with Central and Eastern European and Eastern European countries, upholding the principles of freedom, justice, and solidarity.
