German Chancellor Olaf Scholz defended his government’s border policy during a call with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk on Friday, emphasizing the importance of

close cooperation between European partners to address the challenges of illegal migration and smuggling. The two leaders agreed that these issues could only be tackled together, according to government spokesperson Steffen Hebestreit, as reported by the German state news agency.

Hebestreit stated that Scholz provided Tusk with explanations regarding Germany's new "migration policy measures," which are set to take effect on Monday at borders with Denmark, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg, according to DPA. Border checks are already in place at Germany’s other borders, including with Poland, despite the Schengen Agreement’s rules on free movement.

Last Tuesday, the Polish Prime Minister described Germany’s plans to tighten border controls as “unacceptable,” criticizing Berlin for making the decision without broader consultation among EU members. He argued that instead of stricter controls along the Polish-German border, Warsaw needs more support from Berlin and other EU capitals to secure the EU’s external borders.

Tusk also canceled a planned visit to Germany last week, where he was to receive a prestigious European media award, following his criticism of Germany’s border measures. Speaking at a gathering of Polish ambassadors, he reiterated the need for greater assistance from Berlin and the EU to strengthen external borders, rather than focusing on internal border controls. Photo by Kapsuglan, Wikimedia commons.