The German border city of Frankfurt an der Oder and its Polish neighbour Słubice have expressed concern over escalating tensions between Berlin and Warsaw on migration policy, reported dpa.
"An escalation between member states of the European Union is viewed with growing concern," the leaders of the two municipalities said in a joint statement on Thursday, after Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced earlier this week that checks on the border to Germany would begin from Monday.
Germany has been carrying out random checks at the border with Poland since October 2023, with controls being stepped up since Chancellor Friedrich Merz's administration took office in May.
The new government in Berlin has also introduced a measure to turn back migrants at the country's borders even if they apply for asylum.
Suspending the Schengen Agreement would not solve the problem of irregular migration, but only create new ones, the town leaders warned.
"Border controls cause long waiting times, hinder the free movement of goods and people and damage the regional and European economy."
The checks can also exacerbate social tensions, the neighbouring communities warned.
In Słubice, a self-proclaimed citizens' Border Defence Movement is carrying out checks on people with dark skin, demanding to see ID cards and spreading false information about migration.
The border municipalities of Frankfurt an der Oder and Słubice have a combined 90,000 residents.
- German-Polish
- Border control
Source: www.dailyfinland.fi
