Removing border checks is Poland's proposed plan, contingent on a specified condition.
## Border Control Dispute Eases as Poland Offers Conditional Relief to Germany
In a significant development, Poland has proposed to waive its planned border controls with Germany, subject to Germany lifting its own controls. This move follows Germany's implementation of stricter border controls at the border with Poland, a response to concerns about irregular migration [2][3][4].
The Polish government's offer comes after Germany has been conducting random checks at the border with Poland since October 2023, turning away asylum seekers at the border according to orders made by Alexander Dobrindt [5][6]. Poland has expressed concerns about these actions, viewing them as a violation of the EU's Dublin Regulation and a lack of cooperation from Germany in addressing the issue [1].
Poland's Prime Minister, Donald Tusk, has emphasized the need for concrete guarantees from Germany that the irregular transfers of migrants will stop [1]. The Polish government is seeking a commitment from Germany to adhere to EU regulations and stop sending migrants back into Poland without proper protocols. This would likely involve a formal agreement or understanding that addresses the current concerns and prevents future unilateral actions by Germany that affect Poland's border management [2].
The reinstatement of border controls by Poland is a temporary measure aimed at protecting Europe's external borders, which Poland believes are not sufficiently guaranteed [2]. If Germany agrees to Poland's conditions, it would mark a significant step towards resolving the border control dispute between the two countries.
It is worth noting that Poland's decision to temporarily introduce its own border controls at the German-Polish border next week is an exception to the usual free movement that applies in the Schengen area [7]. If the current situation continues, more countries may be forced to take similar measures, making the situation in the Schengen area increasingly complex [8][9].
The European Union may have concerns about the reintroduction of border controls between Poland and Germany, given the potential implications for the Schengen area's principles of free movement. Poland's Interior Minister, Tomasz Siemoniak, has informed the EU Commissioner responsible for internal affairs and migration, Magnus Brunner, about Poland's plan to waive border controls with Germany [10].
As the situation unfolds, it will be interesting to see how Germany responds to Poland's offer and whether a resolution can be found that respects both countries' concerns and upholds the principles of the Schengen Agreement.
The Polish government's offer to waive its planned border controls with Germany, under the condition that Germany lifts its own controls, highlights the intersection of community policy and politics in addressing the issue of irregular migration. In the midst of this conflict, there is growing concern among EU members about the impact of unilateral border control decisions on the general-news-related principles of free movement within the Schengen area.
