Poland and Czech Republic Extend Border Controls with Slovakia

Facts

• Poland and the Czech Republic have announced that they will extend temporary controls on their borders with Slovakia into November as European countries seek to curb illegal immigration.¹
• Polish Interior Minister Mariusz Kaminsky reportedly confirmed that the government will extend the border controls until Nov. 2, while the Czech government announced a similar extension Wednesday evening.¹
• Temporary controls on the Polish-Slovakian border began on Oct. 4, and Kaminski said that the results have been positive with demonstrable effects. He doubled down on Poland’s immigration policy saying, 'There will be no illegal migration routes through Poland.'²
• Austria on Oct. 4 joined Poland and the Czech Republic, tightening its border with Slovakia — which is a transit point for many migrants from the Middle East and Afghanistan who are looking to reach Germany after crossing into the EU through Hungary and Serbia.¹
• Slovakia also announced Wednesday that it has extended controls on its border with Hungary as the number of migrants entering Slovakia has risen eleven-fold to nearly 40k in 2023.³
• Last month Germany — which is part of the EU’s Schengen open-border zone with Poland, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Austria — introduced its own border checks as many governments face backlash over a rising tide of migration. Immigration has played a key role in several elections in the Central European region.¹

Sources: ¹Reuters, ²Kelo and ³SWI Swissinfo.

Narratives

• Right narrative, as provided by The Telegraph. Eastern European countries such as Poland are providing a great example to Western countries grappling with the migration crisis stemming from Africa and the Middle East. Citizens across Europe and other Western countries are fed up with the endless stream of illegal migration and the moral lecturing from their leaders. Poland doesn't deal with terrorism and gang violence and has seen a booming economy over the last few decades. Poland is one of the few European countries that has the backbone to handle migration appropriately.
• Left narrative, as provided by Fair Observer. Authoritarian demagogues in Poland and other European countries are running campaigns based on fear and discrimination in order to win elections. While some politicians try to disguise their bigotry by claiming anti-immigration policies are a matter of national security, far-right parties are running on a platform of xenophobia. Europe should focus on helping migrants instead of demonizing them.