As Poland is introducing checks at its borders with Lithuania and Germany, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda says it represents a “capitulation” to irregular migration.
“We can all probably agree that internal controls in the Schengen area reflect accumulated problems that we believe cannot be solved by other means. However, such measures must undoubtedly be temporary and must achieve results as quickly as possible and be terminated,” he told a press conference on Sunday.
According to Nausėda, Poland’s decision to introduce checks from Monday night only shows that it is not yet possible to “ideally control” the external borders.
“But we must strive to do that and we must abandon as soon as possible those measures that are not characteristic of the European Union and which […] represent a temporary capitulation to the problem,” the Lithuanian leader said.
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who is visiting Lithuania, said that his country is trying to resolve the migration issue together with Poland.
“Germany introduced these controls when large numbers of migrants arrived in the country... We are coordinating with Poland on how to resolve that situation. I hope that this will not lead to a long-term dispute between Germany and Poland,” he said.
