Poland begins checks at German border in reciprocal move

Poland is beginning spot checks at its shared border with Germany, with random checks being carried out from Monday onwards at a total of 52 border crossings, authorities say.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced the temporary border checks at the start of July in response to stricter German controls at the shared border.

Germany and Poland, like most EU countries, are part of the visa-free Schengen area, which abolished border checks between its members.

However, Germany has been carrying out random checks at the border with Poland since October 2023, with controls stepped up in recent months under Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s administration, known for its hard line on immigration.

Poland’s border checks started at midnight and are set to continue initially until August 5. During this period, Poland also intends to check incoming travellers at its border with Lithuania.

Border guards say they will focus particularly on buses, minibuses and cars with many passengers, as well as vehicles with tinted windows.

Before Poland’s announcement, Merz’s government said it would also begin turning back asylum seekers at the Polish border, a particularly contentious issue in Poland.

Since May 8, German officials have refused entry to around 1,300 people on the border to Poland, according to the Interior Ministry. One in 10 cases involved an asylum request.