The aim of the meeting was to present the current situation at the Polish-Belarusian border, discuss future prospects, and to draw attention to the need for EU member states to take joint actions in the context of solving the migration crisis at the EU’s eastern border.

The deputy chief of Polish diplomacy presented Poland’s position on the causes of the crisis and expressed his hope that EU countries will support and stand in solidarity with Poland and other member states that protect the EU’s eastern border and have become the target of hybrid attacks carried out by Belarus. Deputy Minister Marcin Przydacz also condemned the policy pursued by Belarus as the country responsible for creating a crisis which constitutes a hybrid attack on Poland and the EU and as such can lead to a serious destabilisation of the security situation in the region. He emphasised that these actions should be regarded in a broader perspective of security policy and activities undertaken by Russia and Belarus in various areas such as the military, raw materials, and information. 

The deputy head of the MFA stressed that the situation Poland is facing at its border with Belarus is not an influx of refugees fleeing their countries that are affected by conflict, nor is it a natural migration flow. This is a new phenomenon, sponsored by the Belarusian state, of bringing migrants in order to carry out an organised attack on the EU’s borders. Deputy Minister Marcin Przydacz added that to swiftly solve the crisis it is vital that Western countries should speak with one voice and show clear support for the efforts made by their partners struggling with the situation.

The representatives of the Border Guard presented a detailed briefing showing Belarusian services’ involvement in the illegal smuggling of migrants and illustrating Poland’s efforts to protect its border with Belarus, which is also the EU’s eastern border. 

 

MFA Press Office

Photo: Tymon Markowski