Will relations between Germany and Poland escalate?

International agreement between Nazi Germany and the Republic of Poland, signed on 26 January 1934. The two countries pledged to settle their Problems through bilateral negotiations and to renounce armed conflict for a period of ten years. It effectively restored relations between Poland and Germany, which had previously been strained by border disputes arising from the territorial settlement in the Treaty of Versailles. Germany effectively recognized Poland's borders and moved to end an economically contentious customs war between the two countries that had raged for the previous decade.

Poland and Germany are both members of the EU and NATO REUTERS

In September, German Chancellor Scholz linked the current border crisis to the visa bribery scandal that has rocked Poland’s anti-immigrant government. The German government is considering whether to introduce border checks with Poland to stem the flow of asylum seekers, but the strained relations between the two countries – and now a diplomatic row – could complicate those plans, Politico.eu reported on September 25.

The row between Warsaw and Berlin over the delivery of Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine and their spare parts has reached a new level of tension, as President Volodymyr Zelensky calls on Western allies to “speed up” arms deliveries before the country launches a major offensive in the spring. Polish leaders are not missing any opportunity to attack Germany, a familiar target. Criticism has focused recently on delays in sending main battle tanks to the front in Ukraine. Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s government is under increasing pressure to crack down on rising levels of illegal migration, with many asylum seekers now arriving via the Polish and Czech borders. Officials in Berlin say the government is in talks with Poland and the Czech Republic about introducing temporary border checks.

German government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit denied that Chancellor Scholz was interfering in Poland's internal affairs, but said Berlin would continue to "put pressure" on Warsaw to clarify "major allegations" related to the visa scandal. Tensions between Germany and Poland have increased amid the Polish election campaign, with Poland's ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party often taking aim at Germany, including demanding that the German government pay reparations for World War II. Germany has rejected that demand. Some 204,000 people applied for asylum in Germany in the first eight months of 2023, up 77% from the same period last year. Friedrich Merz, leader of Germany's center-right Christian Democrats, has warned that German cities are "hopelessly overwhelmed" by the influx.

German Chancellor Scholz linked the current border crisis to the visa bribery scandal that has rocked Poland's anti-immigrant government. Photo: Politico

According to Polish media, a “paid” system for issuing Schengen visas to migrants from the Middle East and Africa has been implemented through Polish consulates and several companies in the countries involved. The Polish government says the scheme could involve hundreds of work visas, while the opposition claims the real figure could be around 250,000. Seven people have been arrested so far in connection with the illegal visa scandal. A Polish deputy foreign minister has resigned, reportedly in connection with the scandal. Relations between Germany and Poland’s ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party have recently become strained, with the two sides at odds over a range of issues, from arms deliveries to Ukraine to Poland’s rejection of the European Union’s (EU) migration deal.

The EU mission to train the Ukrainian army has exposed disagreements between Poland and Germany, the Tagesspiegel newspaper writes. The EU training mission will be based in Poland and Germany. Other countries, including those outside the European Union (EU), may also participate in the work. The mission's headquarters will be in Brussels in the building of the European Foreign Service. The mission is expected to carry out its work for two years and will be funded with 106.7 million euros. The Tagesspiegel newspaper notes that preparations for the mission, which have been launched in recent months, show how tense the relations between Germany and Poland are./.

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