Poland Temporarily Suspends Asylum Applications for Migrants from Belarus
On Saturday, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced a significant shift in the country's immigration policy by temporarily suspending the possibility of applying for asylum for migrants arriving from the border with Belarus. This decision was shared during a meeting of his centerright party, Civic Platform, and Tusk is expected to present the full details of the policy to his ministers on Tuesday.
Tusk articulated that many of the migrants crossing this border are being exploited and manipulated by Russia and Belarus in a strategic attempt to destabilize European Union countries. This situation is part of what he referred to as a 'hybrid war'—a form of conflict that is not fought with traditional weapons but instead through psychological and strategic means.
In addition to his announcement, Tusk expressed his intention to seek recognition of this decision from EU institutions. This timing coincides with the postponement of proposed measures aimed at strengthening border controls within the Schengen area, which encompasses nearly all EU nations as well as non-EU countries such as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland.
Since taking office as Prime Minister a year prior, Tusk has made tackling immigration a priority, implementing measures to bolster barriers at the border with Belarus. This border has already been fortified following a significant crisis that began in November 2021, which saw a surge in attempts by migrants to enter Poland. In September alone, around 2,500 individuals attempted to cross from Belarus into Poland, adding to a total of 26,000 attempts since the beginning of the year.
The situation at the Polish-Belarusian border remains a contentious issue, with the Polish government focusing on national security and border integrity. As the EU navigates the complexities of immigration and border policy, this latest move by Poland highlights the ongoing challenges European nations face in managing migration amid geopolitical tensions.
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