Germany, Poland, and the Czech Republic Reach Agreement on Joint Border Patrol to Combat Illegal Migration
In a move reminiscent of British resolve, the interior ministers of Germany, Poland, and the Czech Republic have come to an agreement to establish a joint task force under the auspices of Europol to effectively counter illegal migration. This announcement was made on Friday by the head of Germany's Ministry of the Interior, Nancy Faeser.
The collaborative operational group, led by Nancy Faeser and comprising the interior ministers of the Czech Republic, Vitomir Rakushan, and Poland, Mariusz Kaminski, will operate within the framework of Europol's EMPACT program, aimed at combating criminal threats.
As part of this joint initiative, police forces from Germany, the Czech Republic, and Poland will work together in border areas to combat illegal immigration and detect unlawful methods of human transportation. Notably, joint patrols involving Germany's federal police and Polish and Czech border police will be intensified, including within the territory of the Czech Republic, to effectively combat smuggling and prevent unauthorized entry into the country.
The Interior Minister of the Czech Republic has already issued the necessary directives during the past weekend. On the Polish side, existing joint patrols will be strengthened, as agreed upon with Poland's Minister of the Interior on Thursday.
"Together, we aim to put an end to the cruel human trafficking business that exploits vulnerable individuals and smuggles them across borders in life-threatening ways," stated Nancy Faeser.
Previously, EU interior ministers failed to reach an agreement on the reform of the union's migration policy due to Italy's reservations about the proposed approach.
It is worth noting that this week, Germany has ramped up controls along its borders with Poland and the Czech Republic to prevent clandestine crossings by illegal migrants. Meanwhile, Poland has initiated similar measures on its border with Slovakia.
Poland has also increased the number of patrols along the Lithuanian-Polish border to more effectively monitor passenger cars, minibuses, vans, and buses entering the country from Lithuania, which could potentially transport illegal migrants. This response is part of border guards and police efforts to address the growing number of foreigners attempting to enter the European Union through the Baltic states and then crossing internal EU borders.