The bridge linking the German city of Frankfurt an der Oder to the Polish city of Slubice presents an unusual sight lately. Lines of EU flags adorn both the bridge and sides, and signs stating “Frankfurt Oder – Slubice” and “Ohne Grenzen. Bez Granic” (“without borders” in German and Polish) are visible to those crossing from Germany.
However, the slogan used by both cities for their joint marketing campaign is no longer relevant in its original sense. Germany initiated spot checks at the border in October 2023 and Poland followed suit on July 7, 2025. These actions are reactions to Germany’s tightening migration policy.
Poland reopened border controls at 52 crossings with Germany and 13 with Lithuania, in response to tighter Polish migration control measures. Checks on the Polish side, introduced by Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, aim to address the fact that Germany has tightened entry rules for asylum seekers.
The impact on daily life for locals in the region is significant. While some citizens don’t feel threatened by migrants and view the checks as political manipulation, others worry about increased difficulties for border dwellers, due to delays caused by the checks. These tensions expose deep divisions over migration in the region.
Source: https://www.dw.com/en/german-polish-border-checks-they-make-our-life-difficult/a-73217146?maca=en-rss-en-all-1573-rdf
