The Polish embassy in Berlin has expressed serious concerns about the plans of the future German government, led by conservatives, to tighten border controls. This was reported by the DPA agency, BTA reports.
Polish diplomats warn that such measures could harm both the free movement of people across borders and the normal functioning of the European Union's internal market.
“This is already a problem, given the checks already introduced on the Polish-German border“, Poland's acting ambassador to Berlin Jan Tombinski told Politico. According to him, the measures adopted by the previous German ruling coalition have led to long queues and difficulties at border crossings.
Tombinski stressed that Poland does not want the regime to be further tightened. At the same time, he assured that the country remains committed to protecting the EU's external borders, especially those with Russia and Belarus, as well as preserving free movement within the Schengen area.
Asked whether Poland would accept the return of migrants from Germany under the new government, the diplomat replied that Warsaw would adhere to European legislation, including the new Common European Asylum System.
Meanwhile, incoming Chancellor Friedrich Merz of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) announced that stricter border controls would be introduced from the first day of his mandate. Thorsten Frei, a CDU MP and future head of the chancellery, told Der Spiegel magazine that additional police forces would be deployed at the borders and stressed that this was an urgent step.
According to the coalition agreement between the CDU, the Christian Social Union and the German Social Democratic Party, Germany will start turning back migrants from its common borders "in cooperation with its European neighbours". However, it remains unclear whether this will be done with formal agreement from the countries concerned or through prior consultations.