Border controls: Federal government wants to limit traffic obstructions

The Federal Ministry of the Interior wants to minimize traffic disruptions as a result of border controls to Poland. "The federal police are ensuring the ease of cross-border travel and goods traffic to the greatest extent possible," a ministry spokesperson told the German Press Agency. According to the information, structural changes on the A12 between Frankfurt (Oder) and Swiecko are being discussed, among other things.

Germany has been carrying out random checks at the border with Poland since October 2023 to stop irregular migration. Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) intensified the checks in May. Poland now also wants to introduce controls at its shared border with Germany from Monday - in response to the controls on the German side. Brandenburg's Minister of the Interior René Wilke (non-party, for SPD) and the business community are warning of major traffic jams.

Ministry: Federal Police are examining adjustments

However, there are already traffic jams on the Polish side: the border controls on the A12 are causing traffic delays between Frankfurt (Oder) and Swiecko. This is why Brandenburg's Minister President Dietmar Woidke (SPD) asked the federal government, together with the Marshal of the Polish Voivodeship of Lubuskie, Marcin Jablonski, to create a third lane on the A12.

The Federal Ministry of the Interior is holding out the prospect of a possible solution. The Federal Police is examining structural adjustments to the A12 with all relevant authorities "which could help to relieve the traffic situation on the German-Polish border", the spokesperson said. The federal police are choosing the control location in such a way that the interests of operational tactics and traffic are taken into account.