2025-07-02 15:58
publication
2025-07-02 15:58
The heads of the Polish Ministry of the Interior and Estonia, Tomasz Siemoniak and Igor Taro, talked on Wednesday about the restoration of controls on the borders with Germany and Lithuania planned by the government in Warsaw. Taro declared that Estonia is ready to support Poland with equipment and experts, but counts that the restrictions will last as short as possible. Lithuania, in turn, says a short one: this is not the right tool
The Estonian minister, cited by the BNS agency, emphasized the need to minimize interference in traveling in the Schengen zone for EU citizens.
“For Estonia, it is important that the re -introduction of border controls is as short as possible and does not cover everyone crossing the border” – he emphasized in a statement of the Ministry of the Interior. “We are ready to support Poland with experts and technology (…) But I think that (…) we must focus on innovative solutions to prevent migration pressure. Limiting the Schengen free flow zone is not the best way to do it,” said Taro.
He emphasized that Siemoniak in the conversation assured that Poland would try to minimize interference for travelers. He expressed his understanding of Poland's fears, but also the belief that restoring border controls would only be only a temporary means.
“Our constant goal is to strongly protect the external borders and thus maintaining the free flow of people,” said Taro. He reminded that during the Covid-19 pandemic, restoration of control at the borders significantly hindered the flow of goods. He added that efforts should be made to minimize the negative impact of border controls.
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced a temporary restoration of control at the Polish border with Germany and Poland with Lithuania. He emphasized that this is necessary to reduce uncontrolled flows of migrants. According to the draft regulation, which appeared on Wednesday on the pages of the Government Legislation Center, the border controls of persons will be restored on July 7 and will apply until August 5.
According to BNS, currently 11 EU countries have temporarily restored border controls, and Poland will become 12 such a country.
Lithuania: Do not politicize the protection of borders
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Kestutis Budrys told reporters on Wednesday that the protection of borders should not be strengthened in response to “various political tensions” because it is not a “proper tool” to solve such problems.
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced the restoration of border controls from July 7 at the borders with Germany and Lithuania.
“In all this situation, and this is my and Lithuanian appeal, we should avoid politicizing borders protection measures in response to various political tensions,” said the minister and emphasized that in connection with the arrangements made as part of the Schengen agreement, the issue of border controls is not only a matter of individual countries.
“This is a matter that we are already working here and in Brussels, so that all procedures are respected and decisions are made based on actual data and needs. They must be proportional, precisely targeted, not politically motivated,” said Budrys.
Asked whether he noticed the political aspects of Poland's decision on the restoration of border controls, the minister replied that “he wants to be sure that it was taken on the basis of hard data, not soft assumptions or some kind of situation (in politics – PAP) internal.”
Budrys admitted that the number of illegal immigrants who reach Lithuania and Poland is growing. According to data from the Lithuanian Border Guard (VSAT), 352 migrants were detained in the first half of 2025 who reached Lithuania from Belarus and tried to get to Western Europe. In the same period last year it was 140 people.
On Tuesday, the head of Lithuanian diplomacy announced that in the matter of protecting borders internal departments of Lithuania and Poland consult, talks with Latvia are also held.
The Ministry of the Interior Lithuania announced on Tuesday that Lithuanian services send their officers to Latvia to strengthen the fight against illegal migration. Eight policemen started the service there, and in the near future officers of the Lithuanian border guard will join them.
OS/ AKL/ LM/
