Domino effect in Central Europe as countries introduce border controls after Poland’s decision

Czechia is introducing random checks at its border with Slovakia; however, it is not the number of migrants behind the decision, but rather the decision of the Polish government, which has triggered a domino effect in the Central European region.

The Czech government announced the introduction of controls on the border with Slovakia on Tuesday, following communication with their Polish counterparts.

“Poland informed us on Monday, via a phone call from the Polish interior minister, that controls at the Slovak-Polish border will be introduced on Tuesday night. We had to react operatively on Tuesday. Otherwise, all illegal migration flows would logically move to the Czech Republic,” Czech Interior Minister Vít Rakušan (STAN, not affiliated) told Czech Television.

While Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala (ODS, ECR) cited the number of migrants as the reason for the controls, the interior minister gave a different explanation.

According to Czech Interior Minister Rakušan, the number of illegal migrants coming from Slovakia to Czechia is significantly lower than in the previous year, so there was no need to introduce a stricter approach. “However, the moment Poland agrees to such a measure (border checks), we must cooperate with Poland and Austria to maintain stability in the area and protect citizens from illegal migration,” Rakušan explained.

Austria’s decision to introduce controls with Slovakia came shortly after the Czech one.

“We are doing this because we know from previous experience that the smugglers react very quickly after such controls and change routes,” Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner said in a press statement. “We will fight that with all vehemence that the alternative routes could go via Austria,” he added.

The measures will be in place for the coming 10 days and have been “closely coordinated” with Poland and Czechia, the Austrian minister stated.

The three countries will implement new controls from Wednesday, much to the disdain of the Slovak government.

“Migration needs a European solution for external borders,” Slovak Prime Minister Ludovit Odor said in a statement. “If one country starts guarding its border more, it will lead to a cascade effect that we will all pay for, and the outcome will be very unclear,” he warned.

A similar warning came from the Czech interior minister, favouring a European solution.

“It turns out that unless we have a Europe-wide migration framework, a return policy, a protected external border, an asylum policy, all of which the new migration pact is supposed to include, it is being replaced by regional cooperation, and we are depriving ourselves of the number one EU privilege, the Schengen area,” Czech Interior Minister Rakušan said.

The EU’s New Migration Pact continues to be discussed at the highest European level. Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki has announced that he wants to veto the approval of the EU’s new migration policy at this week’s informal European Council. Poland will hold elections on 15 October, and protecting Poland from migration is one of the main campaign issues.

(Aneta Zachová | Euractiv.cz, Oliver Noyan | Euractiv.de)