The measure comes just as Austria is introducing border controls with Italy to curb an expected influx of asylum seekers. Poland, however, says its actions have nothing to do with refugees, even though the Polish government is highly skeptical about Brussels’ plan to tackle the problem.
“Please, make no connection with the situation in southern Europe. Reintroducing control on our border is necessary for the security of the Alliance summit and World Youth Day,” Interior Minister Mariusz Blaszczak said, announcing the initiative.
The border guards will “prevent people, who may violate public order or be a security threat from entering Poland,” according to the ministry.
NATO is holding a summit in the Polish capital Warsaw on July 8-9. World Youth Day, an international Catholic event that the Pope is to attend, will take place in Krakow on July 25-31. Poland’s border control will be in place between July 4 and August 2. Security checks in Polish ports and airports during that time will be tighter than usual too.
The Austrian government said its plan to re-introduce border controls with Italy at the alpine Brenner checkpoint will come into operation in late May. The move is designed to stem an expected spike of asylum seekers, seeking an alternative route to northern Europe due to travel restrictions between Greece and the Balkan countries. The plan led to massive clashes between Italian activists and Austrian police.
Poland to impose border control within EU during NATO summit, fences rising in heart of Europe
26 April 2016
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Poland will put in place border controls with Germany, Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Lithuania this summer. The move is claimed to provide better security during a NATO summit and a visit by Pope Francis.
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