EU warns of Schengen crisis amid Poland’s retaliatory border checks on Germany

Weeks after Germany’s new centre-right government began enforcing border checks—including along the Polish border—and turning away some travellers, Warsaw has announced a retaliatory response.

Poland is now set to reintroduce its own border controls starting July 7 at crossings with Germany and Lithuania, Caliber.Az reports, citing Politico.

This move signals growing tensions over Europe’s core principle of free movement of people and goods within the so-called Schengen area.

Prime Minister Donald Tusk warned last week that Poland would reimpose checks at the German border if it confirmed that Berlin was sending irregular migrants into Polish territory. Lithuanian media also reported that Tusk vowed to clamp down on illegal crossings from Lithuania, stressing Poland had already “a lot of effort, money, sweat and, unfortunately, some blood, to make the eastern border with Belarus airtight.”

The Polish leader emphasized that his government still supports the EU’s free movement principle, stating they remain “advocates for freedom of movement in Europe.” However, he added that this hinges on “shared will of all neighbours, symmetrical and united action, to minimize the uncontrolled flow of migrants across our borders.”

The announcement comes amid mounting tensions fuelled by recent protests at Polish-German border crossings—some backed by far-right Polish groups—and accusations from nationalist parties that Tusk’s government is quietly accepting migrants turned away by German authorities.

Berlin’s new administration, led by Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt, tightened border security just days after taking office in May. Under new rules, German police are authorized to deny entry to asylum seekers at the border—a step widely criticized as breaching EU asylum law. However, exceptions are made for “vulnerable groups,” such as pregnant women and children.

Previously, German authorities could only turn back migrants lacking proper documentation or using fake or forged travel papers. But under European Union law, asylum seekers must be granted access to request asylum and have their cases reviewed—even if they may ultimately be returned to the EU country where they first entered.

Poland’s retaliatory action now risks escalating a broader EU debate over national border controls and the future of Schengen Area norms, with some warning of a dangerous precedent.

By Nazrin Sadigova