Regions of Brandenburg and Lubuskie Strive for Smooth Traffic Flow, Minimizing Delays from Checkpoints
Pt. 1: The Traffic Jam Dilemma
Brandenburg's Minister President Dietmar Woidke (SPD) is whipping up the federal government, urging swift action to avoid traffic snarl-ups due to border checks. Following a powwow with Lubuskie's Polish leader, Woidke plans to nudge Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) and Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) to expedite the development of a third lane on the Autobahn 12's German side. The regional government's website flagged longest-hour traffic jams on the A12, between Frankfurt (Oder) and Swiecko, caused by these border checks.
Expecting the June 9 agreement between Dobrindt and his Polish counterpart Tomasz Siemoniak to be implemented ASAP, Woidke expressed, "This is down to the federal gov't." These checks shouldn't mess with economic activities or stir up socio-cultural issues via colossal traffic jams.
Pt. 2: Lubuskie's Red Alert
The Lubuskie Chief warned of a major threat, "This is a massive threat to our coexistence, cooperation, development, mutual trust, and above all, citizens' trust on both sides." Jablonski deems the border checks on the German side improper.
Shortly post-new gov't takeover, the federal interior minister stepped up border controls, and asylum seekers can now be denied entry at the border. The German gov't continues this stance despite an emergency court order by Berlin Administrative Court.
Pt. 3: Woidke's Hopeful Demands
Anxious about border controls fading soon, Woidke expressed, "The border controls are short-term measures." Driven by the need for border security ahead of regaining control over the European external borders, Woidke advocates for intensified EU support to Poland. He stressed maintaining friendship with Lubuskie, "We are together in the joint fight against illegal migration."
Emphasizing on rail connectivity for economic development and better Poland relations, Woidke backs rail conferences, primarily for the Berlin-Küstrin line and beyond. Regrettably, the route and some sections lack electrification and double-track infrastructure on the German side.
Ending a 25-year partnership with Lubuskie, Woidke and Jablonski have signed a new declaration, focusing on education exchanges, digitalization, green energy, AI, and mobility collaborations. Nurturing cross-border sharing in leisure and expanding digitization are essential.
- With the increasing border checks causing lengthy traffic jams on the Autobahn 12, Woidke's plea to the federal government for policy-and-legislation changes to expedite a third lane on the German side is urgent, aiming to skirt war-and-conflicts-induced socio-cultural issues and maintain economic activities.
- Amidst rising border controls, the Lubuskie Chief, Jablonski, raised concerns about the potential misuse of these checks as a massive threat to coexistence, cooperation, development, mutual trust, and citizens' trust on both sides, deeming them improper.
- In a bid to combat illegal migration and fortify border security ahead of regaining control over the European external borders, Woidke advocates for intensified EU support to Poland, emphasizing on rail connectivity for economic development and better Poland relations in the face of General-news-related challenges and crime-and-justice issues.
