We are not planning to return to controls at the internal borders of the European Union, said the Deputy Minister of Interior and Administration Bartosz Grodecki. As of today, we do not have information that any of the EU countries are planning to close their borders, he stressed.
Controls and restrictions on crossing the EU’s internal borders – with Germany, Lithuania, the Czech Republic and Slovakia – were introduced by Poland in spring in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. The restrictions were in force from March to June. At that time, similar solutions were also used by other member states.
The Deputy Head of the Ministry of Interior and Administration Bartosz Grodecki was asked whether a return to this type of restriction is being considered due to the autumn increases in infections in Poland and the EU.
‘As of today, we do not have information that any of the EU countries are planning to close their borders,’ he explained.
From March to June, almost 2.5 million people entering Poland were inspected at the internal border of the EU. The officers emphasize that although control had been temporarily restored by Poland five times before, it was never on such an extent. Approximately 670 border guards were daily involved in border traffic control and protection of the so-called green border.