Poland Extends Belarus Border Security Zone Amid Ongoing Migration Concerns
The Interior Ministry confirmed that the exclusion zone, which covers approximately 78 kilometers of border territory, will remain in effect until Aug. 31. The measure, first introduced in June 2024, has now been renewed eight times in a row.
Data released by the ministry shows a sharp decline in illegal crossing attempts, with authorities recording 215 incidents between January and May this year, compared with more than 10,600 during the same period last year—representing a drop of around 98%.
Despite this significant reduction, officials argued that maintaining the restricted zone remains necessary to ensure continued operational readiness and effective border protection.
“The reduced pressure does not mean the end of the crisis,” the ministry stated, adding that migration flows are increasingly shifting toward Lithuania and Latvia rather than disappearing entirely.
Authorities also noted that most attempted crossings this year have occurred within the designated restricted area, reinforcing their decision to maintain the zone.
The announcement coincided with high-level discussions on EU border security, as Polish Interior Minister Marcin Kierwinski met Irish Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan at the Kuznica-Bruzgi border crossing. The talks took place ahead of Ireland’s upcoming presidency of the Council of the European Union.
Poland has faced sustained migration pressure along its Belarus border since 2021. Warsaw and Brussels accuse the Belarusian government of facilitating migrant movements from the Middle East and Africa in an effort to destabilize the EU, an allegation that Minsk rejects.
In response, Poland has expanded border security infrastructure, including steel barriers and advanced surveillance systems. Officials estimate that nearly 3 billion zloty (about $800 million) has been spent on border protection over the past two years.
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the
information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept
any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images,
videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information
contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright
issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
Legal Disclaimer:
EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
