This discussion did not become a topic of negotiation or settlement with the German side. For many reasons, including legal ones, deputy head of the Ministry of the Interior and Administration, Bartosz Grodecki, stated that this option is not on the table, echoing comments by Brandenburg Prime Minister Dietmar Woidke, who suggested that Germany could conduct border controls on Polish soil instead.
German Federal Police have been conducting border checks since mid-October due to migratory pressure. The checks take place directly at former border crossings, but within German territory, sometimes a few kilometers from the Polish border, creating long traffic jams on both sides of the frontier.
Proposal by the Prime Minister of Brandenburg
Dietmar Woidke, the Brandenburg prime minister, argued that it would be preferable if German authorities carried out such inspections on Polish territory rather than at the border.
He added that discussions with the Polish government should take place soon, noting that it is a difficult moment for Poland but a necessary step. The inspections would shift away from the border to reduce the inconvenience for border communities, he explained in a Deutschlandfunk interview.
Poland’s response
This option was not discussed or agreed with the German side. For many reasons, including legal ones, it is completely ruled out, according to Bartosz Grodecki, deputy head of the Ministry of the Interior and Administration.
Grodecki noted that border checks slow traffic regardless of where they are conducted. Implementing them on Polish soil would likely ease queues at some crossings but would not eliminate them entirely.
He stated that it would be impractical to move checks onto Polish territory, and suggested that if German authorities are troubled by congestion near crossings, they might consider enforcing controls within their own territory instead.
Grodecki emphasized there is no legal basis for Germany to exercise border control on the Polish side. He also linked the German internal border controls to what he called a too liberal migration policy in Western Europe, particularly Germany.
According to the Schengen Borders Code, internal border controls were to be used as a last resort, activated only during a real crisis. This context, Grodecki argued, explains why Poland views unilateral German controls with skepticism.
Schengen erosion
Grodecki warned that Europe is witnessing a slow erosion of the Schengen system, a foundational pillar of the European Union and a longstanding achievement. He criticized the European Commission for giving insufficient attention to zone security, readmission agreements, external border protection, and cooperation with countries of origin, while endorsing the migrant relocation focus of a recent pact.
He pointed out that Western Europe, especially Germany, remains a prime destination for illegal migration. The only response from the federal government, he argued, has been to impose border controls that cause queues.
He added that the lack of robust mechanisms and relatively open migration policies justify the continuation of controls at borders, even if some argue they should be placed elsewhere. In his view, the broader Schengen system and its protections are at risk as a result.
Grodecki argued that the entire international protection framework must undergo comprehensive reform. This would include rethinking cooperation with third countries, strengthening external borders, ensuring fast and effective asylum procedures, improving readmissions, combating human trafficking, and addressing the instrumentalization of migration.
In answering how many illegal migrants might move from Poland to Germany, he described the estimate as very difficult to determine due to the lack of reliable benchmarks. He noted that Germany relies on information from migrants and remains a key junction for many migration routes.
READ ALSO: — Germany introduced controls and closed the Prague to Dresden highway, creating a large checkpoint. — Border guards have apprehended six illegal immigrants from Afghanistan, with only two carrying documents.
Source: wPolityce