Border controls on Poland: Effects on the region and new solutions!

Border controls on Poland: Effects on the region and new solutions!

On August 5, 2025, Poland again introduced border controls at 52 border crossings to Germany. This was done in response to the intensified German controls and the continuing pressure due to the migration crisis in Europe. The Polish Interior Minister Tomasz Siemoniak said that the controls against the illegal smuggling of migrants were directed, although it was assured that normal travelers are not affected. The Federal Government's new pole cordinator, Knut Abraham, expressed understanding of this decision, but does not see the border controls as a long -term solution to the challenges in migration policy.

in the German border region, especially in cities such as Frankfurt (Oder), Guben and Görlitz, there is concern about the new situation. Abraham emphasizes that short and long-term solutions are necessary to counter the challenges in migration policy. This includes the introduction of commuter traces and other control tracks. In the long term, he advocates a reform of common European asylum policy to create structural solutions.

border controls in Europe

Poland is now the twelfth country in the Schengen area, which introduces border controls at its national borders. In addition to Poland, countries such as Germany, France, the Netherlands, Austria, Italy, Slovenia, Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Slovakia have already established checks. The EU is powerless in this regard and considers a summit on the Zugspitze to discuss further tightening in asylum policy. Belgium also plans to introduce border controls in the course of summer 2025.

The European Commission has emphasized that such controls should be used as a final means and must be limited in terms of time and locally. EPP MEP Pascal Arimont calls for a legal examination of these measures by the EU Commission. Article 25 of the Schengen Codex stipulates that temporary controls may be carried out under certain conditions, for example in the event of threats to public order or internal security.

Abraham warns of populist forces that may push responsibility for the migration situation to neighboring countries. He calls for close German-Polish cooperation to enforce European law. He also realizes that unrealistic figures in Poland are circulating about rejected asylum seekers from Germany and demands a factual discussion about the reality of the situation.

The concerns caused by the new controls regarding the effects on freedom of travel continue to become louder. The hope in Brussels is that long-term solutions in the form of the asylum and migration package, which is scheduled to fully come into force in the summer of 2026, could secure freedom of travel in Europe.

The latest developments clearly show that the migration challenge of a global, cooperative approach needs to find a sustainable solution. In this context, Abraham’s demand for a reform of the common European asylum policy and the creation of a system with facilities close to border is of central importance.

For more information, read the complete reports on the pages of rbb24 , Süddeutsche and Tagesschau .