"Poland implements border checks with Germany and Lithuania"

Polish authorities to verify claims that Germany had been redirecting migrants who did not originally enter through Poland.

The temporary checks, involving additional police and military personnel, cover 52 crossings with Germany and 13 with Lithuania.

Germany has conducted its own border checks since 2023, with stricter measures introduced this year, allowing officials to deny entry to asylum seekers—a policy that has faced legal challenges.

A meeting scheduled for July 18 will address pressures on the Schengen zone. Under EU rules, temporary controls are permitted to address security concerns but must be time-limited.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk stressed his government’s commitment to open borders but defended the measures as necessary for EU security. "We're acting in the interest of all Europeans," he said.

Interior Minister Tomasz Siemoniak justified the controls as a response to increasing irregular migration, citing tightened security at the Poland-Belarus border as a contributing factor. He warned Poland would maintain its checks if Germany continued its own.

Poland has long accused Russia and Belarus of encouraging migration to destabilize the EU. Siemoniak cited a recent arrest of an Estonian man smuggling four Afghan nationals as proof of ongoing challenges.

Tusk noted the same individuals had earlier attempted to cross illegally from Belarus, reinforcing concerns over coordinated migration pressures.

While avoiding direct accusations, Tusk questioned Germany’s handling of the situation, stating the controls would provide clarity.