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EurActiv (2 July 2025)

Eddy Wax

There’s growing consensus in Brussels about the need to harden the EU’s external flanks to stop migrants. But it’s what to do about internal borders that’s proving controversial, with more than 10 countries now imposing checks.

In the latest development, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced temporary border checks with Germany (and Lithuania) starting 7 July, citing concerns over illegal migration. Tusk had come under pressure from the opposition Law & Justice (PiS) party to impose similar checks to those Germany has had in place on its side of the border since last fall.

The controls – which the EU allows countries to impose only in exceptional circumstances – have been a festering sore in German-Polish relations, that is now worsening. The spat pits two of Europe’s centre-right heavyweights – Tusk and Friedrich Merz – against each other.

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