"El Pais": Border controls introduced by Poland are damaging the Schengen agreement

Poland's introduction of border controls with Germany and Lithuania, which took place under pressure from the far right, constitutes another threat to the Schengen Agreement, which is fundamental from the point of view of European integration, the Spanish daily El Pais wrote in an editorial on Saturday.

"This is a worrying step backward for Schengen, one of the greatest achievements of the European integration process," the newspaper said, recalling the benefits of the Schengen Agreement, signed 40 years ago, for over 450 million Europeans.

According to the newspaper, Donald Tusk's government "bowed to pressure from the far right," which resorted to organizing border patrols. However, El País noted that Poland had seen similar action from Germany, as the government in Berlin introduced border controls as early as September of last year.

The daily stressed that European countries have been "gradually reintroducing border controls that undermine the spirit of the (Schengen) Treaty" for over a decade, and that extraordinary measures are "increasingly used as a response to terrorist attacks and any signs of a migration crisis."

“What is most worrying is that the controls are being introduced not in response to real threats, but as a populist measure aimed at sending a tough message about law and order to potential voters,” wrote El Pais.

Moreover, according to the newspaper, the unwillingness of the member states to admit new members poses a threat to the free movement of persons zone, as was the case with Austria's blocking of the admission of Bulgaria and Romania to Schengen.

As of July 7, Poland has temporarily reintroduced border controls on sections of its border with Germany and Lithuania. The controls are being conducted randomly at entry points to Poland and will last until August 5, although they may be extended. They are being conducted in 52 locations on the Polish-German border and in 13 locations on the Polish-Lithuanian border. (PAP)

mrf/ zm/