Germany issues 'stern warning' to Poland amid visa scandal

"I don't want Poland to simply wave to migrants," Chancellor Scholz said at a campaign event for the Social Democratic Party in Nuremberg, Germany, on September 23. "Depending on the situation, we may have to take additional measures at the German border, for example at the border (with Poland)."

Both Germany and Poland are members of the visa-free travel agreement in Europe, the Schengen area.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz speaks at an election rally on September 23. Photo: Reuters

The above message was sent by Prime Minister Scholz in the context of Polish media reporting on the "cash for visa" scandal related to allowing more than 250,000 citizens of African and Asian countries to work in Poland over the past 2.5 years.

The Polish Foreign Ministry has denied the figure and said it is investigating only 268 visa applications. EU Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson has asked Warsaw to provide a “clear explanation” by October 3.

Mr Scholz's warning also comes as Germany summoned the Polish ambassador in Berlin just days ago, while German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser spoke to her Polish counterpart about the issue.

Both Mr Scholz and Ms Faeser have previously resisted calls for border controls, and Mr Scholz’s latest comments reflect growing pressure on the German government to deal with the rising number of undocumented migrants.

Official data shows that more than 204,000 people have registered as asylum seekers in Germany through August 2023, up 77% from the same period last year. Meanwhile, German police confirmed that more than 12,000 undocumented migrants were detained at the border with Poland in the first half of this year.

Migrants line up to receive food at a logistics center on the Belarus-Poland border in December 2021. Photo: AP

Bloomberg said the warning from Germany increased the risk of border disruption between the two EU economies and added to the challenge for the government in Warsaw as Poland heads toward parliamentary elections on October 15.

Poland's right-wing government has long been critical of Germany's liberal approach to immigration and rejects an EU-wide asylum policy.

Chancellor Scholz is in Nuremberg to campaign for his party ahead of state elections in Bavaria, where the Christian Social Union is leading in polls ahead of the October 8 vote.

Bang Hung

Source: https://nld.com.vn/thoi-su-quoc-te/duc-canh-bao-ran-ba-lan-giua-be-boi-thi-thuc-20230924114222315.htm