In recent months, tensions between Germany and Poland have escalated, exposing cracks in what was once a stable and cooperative partnership within the European Union. The flashpoint of this strain lies along the 467-kilometre German–Polish border, where migration, border security, and differing interpretations of EU responsibilities have collided. In early July 2025, Poland reinstated temporary border checks with Germany and Lithuania, citing concerns over irregular migration flows and a lack of reciprocity from its western neighbour. The decision, announced by Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, came amid growing frustration in Warsaw that Berlin’s policies were placing an unfair burden on Poland.
The immediate cause of the tension revolves around migration and border management. Germany’s stricter stance on asylum and migration has led to increased monitoring and controls along its eastern frontier. Poland, in turn, accuses Germany of redirecting undocumented migrants across the border under the EU’s Dublin Regulation, which assigns responsibility for asylum seekers to the first EU country they enter. The controversy intensified when a video surfaced showing German officers leaving an Afghan migrant on the Polish side of the Gubin–Guben border bridge in the middle of the night, without coordinating with Polish authorities. Warsaw condemned the incident as “unacceptable,” using it as justification for reintroducing its own border checks. This single event has come to symbolise a broader disagreement over how migration should be handled within the Schengen zone.
The Schengen system, designed to guarantee free movement across most of the EU, is now under strain. Poland argues that Germany’s unilateral tightening of controls undermines Schengen principles and disrupts the delicate balance of shared responsibility among member states. Both governments face intense domestic pressure: in Poland, right-wing voices demand tighter border enforcement to defend national sovereignty, while in Germany, the government is under pressure to demonstrate that it can control migration effectively. The political undertones are clear; each side is responding to internal pressures while using the border as a symbol of its determination to protect national interests.
Despite the recent disputes, Germany and Poland have historically maintained a strong bilateral relationship. The 1990 German–Polish Border Treaty, which confirmed post–World War II borders, established a foundation of mutual respect and cooperation. Yet, as the current situation shows, even long-standing treaties cannot fully shield relations from contemporary challenges. Polish Prime Minister Tusk has warned Berlin that the era of Poland’s “silent tolerance” is over, signalling Warsaw’s readiness to act unilaterally if necessary. Germany, for its part, insists that while it values Schengen’s open-border system, it cannot bear the disproportionate impact of irregular migration. Chancellor Friedrich Merz recently stated that “freedom of movement will only work if it is not abused,” underscoring Berlin’s resolve to protect domestic stability.
The friction has also affected local communities. Border towns such as Frankfurt (Oder) in Germany and Słubice in Poland, long symbols of post-Cold War reconciliation, are now feeling the effects of disrupted trade, long queues, and rising public unease. Local business owners report increased delays and bureaucratic hurdles, while residents worry that years of cross-border integration could unravel. Polish and German truckers, commuters, and small traders have become the collateral victims of this political stand-off.
Still, cooperation between the two nations has not completely eroded. Both remain crucial partners in NATO and the EU, collaborating on security and defence, particularly in response to Russia’s aggression in Ukraine. However, the migration dispute highlights a larger European dilemma: how to reconcile national interests with shared EU rules. The reintroduction of border controls by Poland raises questions about the sustainability of Schengen’s open borders and whether the EU can maintain policy unity amid rising nationalist pressures.
Economically, the stakes are high. Germany is Poland’s largest trading partner, with billions in goods crossing their shared border annually. Extended border checks could disrupt supply chains, damage logistics operations, and slow cross-border commerce. German envoy Knut Abraham has warned that prolonged controls may harm both economies, stressing that cooperation, not confrontation, is the only sustainable solution.
At its core, the real tension between Germany and Poland is not about geography or old historical wounds; it is about who bears the burden of migration and how EU principles are applied in practice. For Poland, this is a matter of sovereignty and fairness; for Germany, it is a question of maintaining order and protecting Schengen’s credibility. The coming months will test whether both nations can de-escalate and find common ground through dialogue, or whether Europe’s internal divisions over migration will deepen further. What remains clear is that the German–Polish border has once again become a defining line in the story of Europe’s unity and its fragility.
