Border controls start: Expect protests and traffic jams on Monday!

Border controls start: Expect protests and traffic jams on Monday!

From Monday, July 7th, a wave of new controls will be introduced at the German-Polish border. Germany has decided to carry out random checks to identify refugees entering illegally. This measure comes as a direct response to the increasing number of migrants and the associated challenges. Nordkurier reports that the Polish government will immediately introduce controls at its borders with Germany and Lithuania. The reason for these decisions are concerns about a possible increase in illegally smuggled migrants in both countries.

Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced these controls as a response to the German deportation practice, which is particularly aimed at refugees who are in Germany illegally. Tusk emphasizes that these measures will have a significant impact on people's freedom of movement. Normally, stationary checks on people at internal borders are unusual in the Schengen area, but current developments have shaken this regulation. ZDF emphasized that the introduction of the controls is also associated with legal controversy, as the federal police can turn away asylum seekers, although this is legally controversial.

Changing border politics and local impacts

The changes at the border also have an impact on the everyday lives of local people. Traffic disruptions are already expected in several places on State Road 28 between Blumenthal and Ferdinandshof and on the L 32 in Eggesin, as repair work is being carried out there. This construction work has already taken place against the background of the new controls and will continue until July 11th.

In addition, the Lindenstrasse/Karl-Marx-Strasse junction in Eggesin will also be completely closed on Monday due to work on the water and wastewater supply. If you plan to travel by car during this time, you should definitely take a closer look at the road maps. Those who don't like roadblocks can look forward to the performance of the artist Uwe Beimle on Thursday, July 10th, at the Kulturforum Pasewalk. He will appear there at 7:30 p.m.

Protests and voices from politics

The control measures have already led to protests in Poland. It is expected that there will be possible road blockades by the Polish population, who are concerned about the consequences of these controls. Citizens express concerns that the repatriation of refugees could lead to problems.

In Germany the political landscape is divided. While Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) sees the problem of irregular immigration as a common challenge and is in close contact with Poland, Social Democrats express concerns about free movement within Europe. The SPD sees the controls as a setback for the free movement of people and goods, while the Greens blame Dobrindt for the “domino effect” that these controls entail.

The introduction of the controls is also part of a broader strategy by the federal government, which in particular means a return to old border control practices. The border facilities were dismantled in February and have now been partially dismantled to make room for new checkpoints. Tagesschau reports about the increased presence of the federal police, which has been reinforced for some time by the federal riot police and which has already accumulated a lot of overtime in the past.