Poland warns of border controls with Germany

(Dan Tri) – Polish officials warn that they may conduct checks at the border with Germany amid concerns about a growing wave of illegal migrants, a move that further escalates tensions on both sides.

The Poland – Germany border is being strictly controlled to prevent the flow of illegal migrants (Photo: EPA-EFE).

In a statement to Polsat News late on September 26 local time, Polish Interior Minister Mariusz Kaminski said that the country had conducted checks on a number of vehicles passing through the Slovak border, where police

Slovakia is struggling with an increase in illegal migrants.

`We are concerned that at any time there will be a flow of people moving from Italy to here,` Polish government spokesman Piotr Muller said.

This was done following an order issued by Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki on September 25 to stop the flow of migrants crossing Poland to Germany and may introduce similar measures for Germany in the near future.

Thousands of migrants from North Africa sailed to the Italian island of Lampedusa this month.

In October 2022, Poland completed a 186 km long barbed wire fence on the border with Belarus after coming under pressure from thousands of migrants from the neighboring country trying to enter Polish territory.

Germany’s move to tighten border controls came after Prime Minister Olaf Scholz on September 24 called on the Polish government to clarify suspicions of bribery to get visas for migrants.

`I don’t want Poland to simply issue visas and then discuss our asylum policy,` Prime Minister Scholz said, asking the Polish Government to clarify the alleged scandal in which

Late on September 26, Germany also announced that it would enforce stronger border controls with Poland and the Czech Republic to combat human trafficking.

The German government is under increasing pressure to crack down on rising levels of illegal migration, with many asylum seekers now arriving in the country via the borders of Poland and the Czech Republic.

Officials in Berlin said the government was currently in discussions with Poland and the Czech Republic about introducing temporary border checks.

Reacting to the above statement of the German Chancellor, Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau accused such comments `show an attempt to interfere in Poland’s internal affairs and the ongoing election campaign in the country.`