Poland’s government, led by Donald Tusk, has moved to tighten control over its borders by adopting a draft law that temporarily suspends the right to claim asylum.
Prime Minister Tusk defended the measure, stating that asylum laws are being exploited, particularly at the Belarusian border, by those aiming to destabilize Poland. “By adopting this bill, we’re taking back control of Poland’s borders,” he asserted.
The proposed legislation is a direct response to Belarus’s controversial tactics of funneling migrants from the Middle East and Africa to the EU’s eastern borders—affecting Poland, Latvia, and Lithuania. These nations accuse Belarus, with Russia’s alleged complicity, of engaging in “hybrid warfare.” Poland has reported a 66% increase in migrant crossings compared to last year, recording 28,000 attempts by the end of October. The EU claims most of these migrants hold Russian student or tourist visas.
In October, the European Council allowed Poland and its neighbors to take tougher stances on asylum under specific conditions. This support reflects a shift in EU policy, which previously criticized Hungary for similar measures but now backs Poland’s actions. Brussels has even pledged €52 million to strengthen Polish border defenses, a move critics see as politically motivated, given Tusk’s ties to EU leadership.
The draft law grants the government the power to restrict asylum applications for 60-day periods, extendable with parliamentary approval. It also requires specifying which border areas the restrictions will cover. While Tusk’s coalition holds a parliamentary majority, junior partner The Left has voiced concerns about the measure.
President Andrzej Duda, aligned with the opposition Law and Justice Party (PiS), accused Tusk of hypocrisy, noting his past opposition to border barriers and stricter immigration policies during the PiS administration. Duda remarked that Tusk has now “joined the defenders of Poland’s borders.”
Poland’s move mirrors broader European trends, as countries grapple with the ongoing migration crisis. Finland recently passed laws allowing guards to turn away asylum seekers under certain conditions, and other nations are reconsidering the EU’s Migration and Asylum Pact. Critics argue the pact fails to protect external borders and instead incentivizes migration.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has long advocated for external border protection and offshore asylum processing, calling it the only viable solution to Europe’s migration woes. As Poland and others take matters into their own hands, it seems Orbán’s approach is gaining traction across the continent.
