Poland Extends Border Controls Through October
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Poland Extends Border Controls Through October

Poland will extend its temporary border controls with Germany and Lithuania until October 2024, according to an announcement made Sunday by Interior Minister Marcin Kierwinski. The initial timeframe for the controls was set to expire on August 10, 2024.

The extension, formalized through an official notification to the European Commission, follows a security meeting between Minister Kierwinski, provincial governors and heads of border authorities. The decision reflects increasing pressure at Poland’s eastern border.

Minister Kierwinski attributed the shift in migration patterns to the blocking of traditional routes by Belarus, resulting in a redirection of flows towards other areas within the European Union. He emphasized the need to address the current situation, stating that the primary challenge now faced not only by Poland but also by its EU partners is to close the migration route that has been diverted towards Lithuania and Latvia.