Poland will begin consultations with different EU nations bordering Germany to formulate a response to Germany’s resolution to introduce border controls, the Polish Inside Ministry confirmed to Euractiv.pl.
Berlin’s resolution to introduce border controls with all its neighbours was met with nice discontent in Poland, with Prime Minister Donald Tusk (PO, EPP) calling it “unacceptable from the Polish viewpoint.”
“The actions by Germany (…) increase nice concern. They could even threaten the functioning of the whole Schengen Space, which is essential for EU residents and is an undoubted success,” Poland’s Inside Ministry advised Euractiv.pl.
“Within the coming hours,” Poland will suggest consultations with EU nations bordering Germany to think about a attainable response “additionally on the EU degree”, the ministry added, with out specifying when and the place a gathering of the nations involved would happen.
Tusk had already mentioned on Tuesday (10 September) that Warsaw needed to seek the advice of with different EU states on the matter however didn’t give particulars on the time.
On Wednesday, Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD, S&D) defended his authorities’s insurance policies, together with the brand new border controls to be launched subsequent Monday (15 September).
“We’ll proceed this profitable method, […], we’re doing this, though it’s getting tough with our neighbours,” Scholz advised the German Bundestag.
“I consider […] it’s obligatory for us to endure this dispute,” he added.
Germany has launched checks on its borders with Poland, Czechia, Austria and Switzerland as an accepted exception to the Schengen guidelines.
Germany’s Inside Ministry has repeatedly described the prevailing controls as successful in combating irregular migration.
Menace to Polish-German relations
The already rocky relations between Germany and Poland may very well be additional broken by this new row over border controls.
German newspaper Die Welt recalled that in June, German police despatched a gaggle of Afghan refugees again to Poland with out consulting Poland, prompting protest from the Polish authorities.
Within the eyes of many Poles, it regarded as if the Germans had been sending again irregular immigrants with none session, Die Welt added.
Current proposals by the opposition centre-right CDU occasion to systematically flip again irregular migrants on the German border would have required Poland to soak up 1000’s of individuals “month after month” – which, in response to Die Welt, could be “exhausting to think about” Poland would settle for.
Poland is in fixed contact with the German aspect on the problem of managing the border in order that it poses the least attainable obstacles to the motion of individuals and items, the Polish inside ministry mentioned.
“Warsaw reminds that the introduction of border controls ought to at all times be the ultimate step, and it needs to be well-argued because it impacts the functioning of the whole Schengen zone,” the ministry added.
[Edited by Daniel Eck]
