Reference News, July 8 report. According to Deutsche Welle, on July 7, Poland initiated checks at its borders with Germany and Lithuania, attempting to combat "illegal immigration." German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt praised this measure, while other MPs warned it could cause damage.

Polish border guards began random checks at 52 border crossings along the German border and 13 border crossings along the Lithuanian border at midnight.

The report cited Polish Interior Minister Tomasz Szemina in a post on social media platform X, saying: "These checks target those involved in illegal migrant smuggling. Ordinary tourists have nothing to worry about."

Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced temporary border checks in early July in response to Germany's stricter border controls.

Germany has been conducting random checks at the border since October 2023, and since May this year, the Merz government has strengthened control over migrants.

The report said that like most EU countries, Germany and Poland are part of the visa-free Schengen area, which abolished border checks between member states. However, concerns over the number of migrants have put pressure on the principles behind the Schengen area in recent years.

According to AFP, the Polish Interior Minister said that if Berlin takes similar actions, Poland would cancel the measures reintroduced on July 7 at the border with Germany.

Poland temporarily reintroduced controls with its EU neighbors Germany and Lithuania, claiming it was necessary to combat "illegal immigration."

The report stated that hundreds of migrants mainly from the Middle East cross from Belarus through the Baltic countries each month, then transit through Poland to Germany.

This issue is very sensitive in Poland and has triggered tensions with Germany. Warsaw accuses Berlin of sending many migrants back to Poland, while Berlin denies this. Since 2023, Berlin has implemented controls in the border areas adjacent to Poland.

On July 7, Polish Interior Minister Szemina said in an interview: "If Germany lifts the controls, we won't delay either."

He said that Poland is "committed" to free movement within the Schengen area, but to maintain this freedom, EU's external borders must be strengthened, not re-established between member states. (Translated by Lin Xiaoxuan)

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