Commissioner Johansson shared Poland's view that Belarus' actions must be met with a firm response from the EU Member States to prevent further escalation of the situation at the border. She also pointed out that the Member States have the right and duty to protect their borders, which are the external borders of the Union.

During the meeting, Minister Mariusz Kaminski provided information on the current situation on the Polish-Belarusian border and the actions taken by the Polish Government to ensure the security of the EU external border and prevent further actions by the Lukashenko regime. The Minister stressed that Poland prevents illegal border crossings by migrants directed to the border by Belarusian services.

The Head of the Ministry of the Interior also emphasised that Poland has been actively cooperating with the Frontex Agency since the beginning of the crisis by exchanging information on an ongoing basis and providing the Agency with data on the situation at the Polish section of the external border. Moreover, Poland has also been actively assisting other countries under migratory pressure, for example, by deploying the necessary equipment and human resources for the Frontex operation in Lithuania. It also remains in regular contact with the Agency's Management Board

As Minister Mariusz Kamiński underlined, Poland provides international protection to people fleeing areas of persecution or hostilities. Prominent examples of such assistance are the thousands of humanitarian visas issued to Belarusians persecuted by the Lukashenko regime and the evacuation of some 1,300 refugees from Afghanistan who were rescued from real danger to their lives and allowed to apply for international protection in Poland.

Commissioner Ylva Johansson thanked Minister Mariusz Kamiński for providing detailed information on the situation on the Polish-Belarusian border.