A notification of Poland's extension of the controls on the borders with Germany and Lithuania was published on Monday (4 August this year) by the European Commission. 
The decision to extend the controls is due to continuing migratory pressure along the borders with Germany and Lithuania. The unprecedented situation in which illegal migration is used as a tool for exerting pressure on a sovereign state such as the Republic of Poland requires non-standard solutions proportional to the scale of the threat. 

Change in the list of border crossing points with Germany 

Due to the continuing threat of illegal migration at the Polish-German and Polish-Lithuanian sections of the border, by decision of the Minister of Interior and Administration, temporary border control at the German and Lithuanian borders has been extended to 4 October this year. In addition to the extension of controls in force since 7 July this year, a decision was made to modify the list of controlled border crossings at the border with Germany. 

A new pedestrian/bicycle border crossing between Nowe Warpno and Rieth is included. This is in response to the needs of local residents and tourists (control will be carried out along a 50 m stretch before the bridge entrance). In addition, the territorial coverage of the crossing at the Świnoujście promenade was extended to include the adjacent beach. This will enable checks to be carried out against people moving along this section of the border. 

At the same time, due to the complete lack of border traffic at three river crossings (Miłów-Eisenhüttenstadt, Widuchowa, Gryfino), it was decided to remove them from the list. This will allow a more efficient use of staff by redirecting them to serve at the other border crossings.

Temporary controls at the national border with the Federal Republic of Germany and the Republic of Lithuania

Border controls are carried out in a selective manner and proportionate to the risks identified. The idea is to minimize any negative impact on travellers, particularly European Union citizens exercising their freedom of movement, as well as on freight transport.

The temporary reinstatement of border control at the internal borders of European Union countries is regulated by Regulation (EU) 2016/399 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 March 2016 on an EU Code on a Union Code on the rules governing the movement of persons across borders (Schengen Borders Code).

According to Art. 25a(1) and (3) of the Schengen Borders Code, where there is a serious, unpredictable and immediate threat to public policy or internal security in a Member State, that Member State may exceptionally reintroduce border control at all or specific parts of its internal borders.