Poland has sharply criticised the German government’s plans to introduce temporary checks at all German border crossings in a bid to curb illegal migration.
“This approach is unacceptable,” Prime Minister Donald Tusk said in Warsaw on Tuesday, adding that the measures would effectively suspend Europe’s passport-free Schengen area.
“What Poland needs is not more border controls, but greater involvement of countries like Germany in guarding and securing the EU’s external borders,” Tusk said.
The prime minister further said that his government would ask other countries affected by the German government’s decision to urgently consult on the steps to be taken within the EU.
On Monday, German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser ordered temporary checks at all German land borders to limit unauthorized entries. The additional checks will begin on Monday and will initially last for six months.
Stationary checks have been taking place at the borders with Poland, the Czech Republic and Switzerland since October 2023. These have been extended several times and will currently run until 15 December.
Similar measures introduced by Germany to combat illegal migration have been in force at the German-Austrian land border since September 2015. The newly introduced border controls concern the land borders with France, Denmark, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg.
