Poland to reintroduce border controls with Germany and Lithuania

From Monday, 7 July, Poland will temporarily reinstate border checks with Germany and Lithuania. The move, which marks a departure from standard Schengen Area rules that typically permit passport-free travel, is expected to impact cross-border road transport and freight operations throughout the region.

The measure is a direct response to changes in border management on the German side and to increasing migratory pressure from the Baltic region. As the Prime Minister explained, Germany has for some time refused to accept migrants seeking asylum, prompting Poland to strengthen its own checks.

The reinstated controls will apply both to Poland’s western border with Germany and its north-eastern border with Lithuania.

In response, Lithuania is also tightening its border controls and deploying officers to its boundary with Latvia. Both countries are coordinating efforts with Poland to limit what is known as “secondary migration” within the EU.

For the transport and forwarding industries, the reintroduction of border controls presents a significant risk of disruption. Until now, queues of lorries heading into Germany were a common occurrence. Delays are now expected in the opposite direction too, with vehicles returning to Poland facing checks. This is likely to lead to longer driver hours, strain on supply chains, and potential congestion at key border crossings.

With Poland serving as a major transit country for goods moving across Europe, the changes could have ripple effects on international freight logistics.

Although the government has stated that it aims to minimise the negative impact on citizens and businesses, the transport sector is already preparing for additional burdens.