Germany and Poland Face Off Over Border Controls Amid Migrant Crisis
As Poland announced plans to introduce border controls along its border with Germany, the German government’s Polish envoy, Knut Abraham, has expressed concerns that the move could harm everyday relations between the two nations.
Abraham, who spoke to the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland, emphasized that temporary border controls, while necessary in the face of the current migration crisis, must be designed in a way that does not disrupt the long-established connections along the border. He added that the long-term solution lies in a joint German-Polish interest in a functioning European solution, rather than relying on border controls.
The planned controls, announced by Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, will undoubtedly affect the daily commutes and trade between the two countries, said Andreas Roßkopf, chairman of the police union’s federal police department. However, the controls could also deter migrants from reaching Germany, potentially reducing the number of unauthorized individuals attempting to cross the border, Roßkopf added.
However, some experts warn that if the Polish authorities only focus on controlling the entry of people, it could lead to a “ping-pong game” where unwanted individuals are simply sent back and forth, a scenario that has been predicted since the intensification of German border controls a month ago.