Tusk told an EU cohesion and border forum in Białystok that the government would be ready “in November” to reopen the Bobrowniki and Kuźnica checkpoints “on a trial basis” after consultations with Vilnius.
He said he had earlier pushed to open them this week but cited issues on Lithuania’s borders with Belarus and Russia and the need for a coordinated policy with neighbors.
The prime minister said the Polish-Belarusian frontier is among Europe’s best protected, allowing Warsaw to take limited risk to ease cross-border life for residents. He added that if security concerns arise, the crossings could be shut “without hesitation.”
Tusk said Bobrowniki’s reopening would not pose logistical problems. Kuźnica, undergoing roadworks, would initially allow vehicles up to 3.5 tons. The Połowce crossing will remain closed for now due to a military presence and security reasons.
Currently, only two rail crossings in Kuźnica and Siemianówka operate, handling freight only. The Kuźnica road crossing has been closed since Nov. 9, 2021, after an attack involving migrants. Bobrowniki was shut on Feb. 9, 2023, following the sentencing of Polish minority activist and journalist Andrzej Poczobut by Belarusian authorities. Połowce has remained closed since the pandemic.
Addressing local officials and businesses, Tusk linked border-security spending and the “Eastern Shield” initiative to greater investor confidence in Poland’s east.
He said the EU had to be convinced that securing its eastern border against illegal migration and military threats from Russia is vital for Europe’s stability.
(jh)
Source: PAP