In a letter to his Polish counterpart Mariusz Kamiński, Horst Seehofer thanked Poland for "protecting our shared external frontier," in an effort "to prevent, wherever possible, illegal migration via Belarus to the countries of the EU,” Polish state news agency PAP reported.
He added that the growing migrant crisis on the Belarus border was increasingly spreading to his own country, according to the Polish news agency.
"It would be reasonable to further strengthen our tried and tested shared patrols on the Polish-German frontier,” Seehofer wrote in his letter, as quoted by PAP.
He added that such patrols should focus "on the Polish side of the border zone" and would be headed by Polish border guards, but could be reinforced by additional German federal-police officers if necessary, according to the Polish news agency.
Logistics support
Seehofer also offered Poland logistics support, such as accommodation for migrants and refugees, and, “in view of further challenges posed by the migrant influx,” suggested “turning for assistance to the EU’s border-protection agency, Frontex.”
The German interior minister concluded his letter by “expressing once again my heartfelt thanks for your support as well as the time-tested and invariably constructive cooperation of the border forces of our countries,” public broadcaster Polish Radio’s IAR news agency reported.
Polish Deputy Interior Minister Bartosz Grodecki told the PAP news agency that Warsaw was “pleased that our German neighbours appreciate how our government, its agencies and the army are protecting the frontier with Belarus, which is also the external border of the EU.”
“Such a stance is especially important because the migrants are mainly heading for Germany,” he added.
Grodecki was also quoted as saying that Poland was “in constant contact” with Frontex, which he said had offered to "help with readmission operations" whereby those who illegally cross the border are returned to their countries of origin.
(pm/gs)
Source: IAR, PAP