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Polish interior minister: border controls with Germany and Lithuania comply with EU law

05.07.2025 13:40
The reintroduction of border controls with Germany and Lithuania is in line with the Schengen Borders Code, Poland's interior minister Tomasz Siemoniak said on Saturday.
Polish Interior Minister Tomasz Siemoniak speaks at a press conference during a visit to the Polish-Lithuanian border crossing in Budzisko, July 5.
Polish Interior Minister Tomasz Siemoniak speaks at a press conference during a visit to the Polish-Lithuanian border crossing in Budzisko, July 5.Photo: PAP/Artur Reszko

Temporary and selective checks will begin on 7 July and are set to last 30 days, though the Polish government has not ruled out an extension.

Siemoniak explained the move was part of a broader effort to combat illegal migration, which he described as a shared challenge for Poland, Lithuania, and the European Union.

The minister said he had informed EU internal affairs and migration commissioner Magnus Brunner of the decision, and that Brunner had accepted Poland’s justification.

"The reason behind this decision is a common problem we face – Lithuania, Poland, and the European Union – namely, the fight against illegal migration," Siemoniak told reporters.

He also noted that the measure mirrored Germany’s ongoing border checks, introduced in October 2023.

"If Germany lifts its controls, we too will see no reason to maintain ours on the German border," he said.

(ał)

Source: PAP