07 November
2024
The return of border control within the Schengen zone causes different assessments. Originally created for the free movement of people and goods, the zone faces challenges that violate its core principles. Lardi.Today learned about this from a message published on the etransport.pl portal.
Jakub Gwiazdovskyi, Head of Partnerships and Relations at Transcash.eu, points out that border controls, initially introduced to protect against illegal migration, are increasingly being extended based on other factors. For example, the COVID-19 pandemic once forced countries to close their borders, which set the precedent for further restrictions. Permanent border controls are currently in place in France following a series of terrorist attacks in 2015-2016, while Germany has introduced measures on its border with Austria. Austria controls the borders with Hungary, Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Slovenia, citing its necessity in the fight against terrorism.
Despite the opposition to the strengthening of control in Germany, practice shows that it does not necessarily interfere with the functioning of the transport and logistics services industry.
As Jakub Gvyazdovsky notes, the experience of Brexit shows that the transport market is able to adapt to changes, despite the difficulties. The UK remains an important trading partner for Poland: the 2024 report noted that by the end of the third quarter of 2023, trade between the countries had increased by 20%, demonstrating that the transport sector continues to grow, even with increased controls.
"Undoubtedly, Brexit complicated trade relations with other EU countries, but the transport market is gradually adapting to new realities. Given that the scope of German control is much less strict than those operating on the border with Great Britain. Inciting fears at this stage does not have any rational justification"
Yakub Gvyazdovskyi
Lardi.Today reminds that the temporary control at all land borders, which was introduced by Germany, is allowed only in the event of a threat to public order or internal security. As the Polish members of the European Parliament emphasize, there are no such grounds, and Germany's decision is a selfish step that violates all the rules of the community.