Tuesday, July 1, 2025
In a move aimed at bolstering national and regional security, Poland has announced that it will temporarily reinstate border controls with Germany and Lithuania, starting from 1 July 2025. This measure, confirmed by the Polish Ministry of the Interior and Administration, is being introduced in preparation for the NATO Summit taking place in Warsaw between 9–11 July 2025.
For residents of border areas and travellers planning their summer holidays, this news may come as a sudden disruption. But Polish authorities are reassuring the public that the measures are both temporary and necessary. At the heart of the decision is the need to ensure safety and public order during one of the most important geopolitical gatherings of the year.
According to an official statement from the Polish Ministry of the Interior (MSWiA), temporary border controls will be in effect from 1 July to 19 July 2025. These checks will be conducted at selected road, rail, and pedestrian border crossings along Poland’s borders with Germany, Lithuania, Czech Republic, and Slovakia.
The Polish Government published the notification on the gov.pl portal, citing Article 25 of the Schengen Borders Code, which allows Schengen countries to temporarily reintroduce border controls in exceptional circumstances that threaten public order or internal security.
The MSWiA clarified:
“Border control will be carried out in a flexible manner and adapted to the current threat assessment. Our aim is not to restrict free movement unnecessarily but to ensure a high level of security during the NATO Summit and associated events.”
For most EU citizens and residents, travel across Poland’s internal Schengen borders typically does not involve checks. However, during the reinstated control period, travellers should carry valid identification documents such as passports or national ID cards, even for routine cross-border travel.
The Polish Border Guard (Straż Graniczna), in coordination with German and Lithuanian authorities, will carry out random and targeted checks. Officials from the Ministry assured that efforts will be made to minimize disruption, especially for daily commuters and freight transport crossing key borders like Frankfurt (Oder)-Słubice, Gołdap-Lazdijai, and Świecko.
Transport operators have also been advised to anticipate potential delays and plan accordingly. According to Poland’s National Security Bureau (BBN), the reintroduced checks will also help in screening foreign delegations and personnel involved in summit logistics, who will be arriving from across Europe and North America.
The 2025 NATO Summit, set to take place in Warsaw, marks a critical gathering for international diplomacy and defence. Heads of state and government officials from all 32 NATO member countries are expected to attend, along with partner nations and representatives of international organisations.
As per the Polish Government Security Centre (RCB), the summit will focus on collective defence measures, regional security, and continued support for Ukraine. With high-level discussions and demonstrations planned throughout Warsaw, Polish authorities are taking pre-emptive steps to ensure tight security in and around the capital.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized that border controls are a standard precautionary measure, as implemented during previous EU-hosted international summits such as the G20 and past NATO meetings.
As a member of the Schengen Area, Poland generally upholds the principle of open internal borders. However, EU law does allow for temporary reintroduction of checks in exceptional cases. Poland has previously reinstated border controls during major events, including Euro 2012, World Youth Day 2016, and the 2016 NATO Summit, also held in Warsaw.
The European Commission has been informed of Poland’s plans in accordance with Schengen regulations. In the official government release, authorities reiterated that these controls are not a suspension of Schengen rules, but a temporary adjustment for public security.
Residents near Poland’s western and northeastern borders have responded with a mixture of understanding and concern. In Gołdap, a town bordering Lithuania, local businesses that depend on cross-border traffic hope the disruption will be minimal.
Jakub Nowicki, a hotel manager near the Słubice-Frankfurt (Oder) crossing, told the Polish Tourism Agency in a recent interview:
“We’re used to open travel, but we understand that for something like a NATO summit, the country has to take precautions. We just hope the checks are efficient and respectful.”
The government has promised to keep the public informed daily about delays, changes to crossing points, and expected traffic volumes through updates from the Government Security Centre (RCB) and local voivodeship authorities.
While this temporary reinstatement of border controls may cause minor delays or inconveniences, the Polish Government’s approach reflects its broader commitment to regional stability, national sovereignty, and the responsibilities that come with hosting an international security summit.
In the coming weeks, authorities will focus on smooth implementation, community engagement, and cooperation with neighbours like Germany and Lithuania. For now, travellers should prepare to carry identification and follow updates from official government sources.
As Poland prepares to welcome world leaders to Warsaw, the temporary tightening of borders stands as a reminder that sometimes, security and cooperation go hand in hand — even in a borderless Europe.
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