Poland Reinstates Border Checks with Germany, Lithuania Amid Migration Surge

Poland has reinstated border checks with Germany and Lithuania to curb irregular migration, a move driven by political pressure and in response to Germany's intensified border controls. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk described the measures as a response to an 'asymmetry' in how the two countries manage their shared border, focusing checks on vehicles such as buses, minibuses, and cars with tinted windows. The controls, initially set for 30 days, target migrants entering the EU via Belarus, amid accusations that Belarus is orchestrating migration flows as hybrid warfare. Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda criticized the decision as a temporary 'capitulation' to migration challenges and urged that such measures should be brief and effective, while German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier emphasized ongoing coordination with Poland to resolve the issue. The situation highlights ongoing tensions within the Schengen Area about balancing open borders with internal security concerns.