Dangerous situation on the border with Germany. Dangerous changes

• Poland introduced temporary controls on the border with Germany, justifying them with the need to limit illegal migration.
• While the controls did not stop businesses from operating, concerns were raised about a possible decline in customer numbers on both sides of the border.
• Experts call for an assessment of the effectiveness of these actions and for a Polish-German dialogue on the future of life and cooperation on the border.

On July 7, Poland reintroduced temporary border controls with Germany. Border Guard officers, supported by police and Territorial Defence Force soldiers, can stop selected vehicles for random checks. According to the Polish Press Agency (PAP), there are 52 border crossings on the border with Germany, with permanent checks being conducted at 16 locations. According to the government, this is necessary to reduce the uncontrolled flow of migrants.

The Northern Chamber of Commerce in Szczecin notes that initial concerns have not been confirmed, and that businesses are currently experiencing no significant disruptions. However, other challenges are emerging, particularly from the SME sector.

Border controls create certain psychological constraints. We know we'll be checked, and we fear traffic jams, so we travel to Germany less often. And the same is true the other way around. German customers are less likely to come to Poland to shop," says Hanna Mojsiuk, president of the Northern Chamber of Commerce in Szczecin.

The situation is of great concern to West Pomeranian entrepreneurs, who often base their business activities on cross-border relations.

Dangerous changes. Dangerous situation on the border with Germany.

The Northern Chamber of Commerce expects an evaluation to be conducted after the first month of border controls , assessing their effectiveness and their social and economic impact. Jarosław Tarczyński, a cross-border policy expert and president of a company operating near the border, assesses:

• We will not argue with the validity of the controls if it turns out that they actually prevent migrants from entering Poland and protect our security.
• However, if they turn out to be socially ineffective and at the same time hinder the free flow of personnel, trade and services, it means that they cause more problems than benefits.
• It's hard to judge at this point

"We believe that the Polish and German sides should be discussing now what life on the border will look like once controls are lifted. I have no information on whether the authorities of Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, and Western Pomerania are meeting to discuss this, although they should," adds Jarosław Tarczyński.