The Polish Border Guard has announced the suspension of joint Polish-German patrols along the border. However, an official statement from the German Federal Police reads: “The Polish Border Guard and the Federal Police carry out border checks in a coordinated manner.”
Initially, in the early 2000s, the joint patrols focused on combating smuggling. Over time, their mandate expanded to include tackling other forms of crime, such as human trafficking, drug trafficking, and car theft. Recently, cooperation has shifted its focus to addressing migration into Germany.
The decision to suspend the patrols was a response to tensions over Germany’s practice of returning illegal migrants to Poland. The Polish Border Guard suspended the operation of joint units and patrols in order to, as explained by spokesperson Major Dolot, concentrate on independent border checks supported by the Military Police, the Territorial Defence Forces, and the national police.
The German Federal Police (Bundespolizei) responded to inquiries regarding the confirmation of the suspension of joint Polish-German border patrols.
“The Polish Border Guard and the Federal Police carry out border checks in a coordinated manner that safeguards the interests of both parties involved in enforcement. Please understand that the Federal Police does not comment on the details of bilateral cooperation.”
Polish Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz also addressed the issue, firmly rejecting the proposal made by German Minister Alexander Dobrindt for joint patrols, emphasizing that Poland would act independently.