Poland Plans Temporary Border Controls With Germany, Lithuania From July 2025

Germany and Poland are facing significant traffic disruptions due to the reintroduction of border controls aimed at curbing irregular migration. Germany has intensified border checks since October 2023, leading Poland to follow suit with temporary controls starting July 7, 2025, affecting the A12 motorway corridor and causing frequent traffic jams. German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt and regional leaders from Brandenburg and Lubusz are seeking solutions, such as adding a third lane for border checks and considering joint German-Polish border control operations to ease congestion. Poland is also reinstating border checks with Lithuania at 13 designated crossings to prevent illegal migration, particularly from Belarus, reflecting increased migration pressures in the region. These border control measures mark a shift in the traditionally open Schengen Zone and have raised concerns about longer wait times and restricted freedom of movement. Meanwhile, at the Ukrainian-Polish border, roadworks and reconstruction efforts have led to temporary capacity reductions and traffic restrictions at key checkpoints.