Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on June 30 that his government is considering reintroducing border controls with Lithuania in response to increased concerns about irregular migration. Lithuanian authorities, however, say they have not been informed of any such plans, LRT.lt reported on July 1.

Reinstating checks between Poland and Lithuania – both members of the EU’s Schengen Area – would represent a serious step, typically reserved for security emergencies. Such a move could strain bilateral ties and raise questions about internal EU cohesion, especially as the bloc works to reform its migration and asylum framework.

Speaking to reporters, Tusk highlighted Poland’s efforts to secure its eastern frontier, particularly with Belarus, calling it "airtight" following years of investment in fencing, surveillance and patrols.

 “We will take steps to ensure illegal crossings do not shift toward the Lithuanian direction,” he said, suggesting new controls may be needed to reinforce that flank of the border, LRT.lt said.

At the same time, Tusk indicated that similar checks could be reinstated along Poland’s border with Germany, where Warsaw has accused Berlin of pushing undocumented migrants back into Polish territory. In response, right-wing groups in Poland have formed so-called "Civic Guard" units to monitor crossing points and claim to support state border enforcement.

Lithuania’s State Border Guard Service (VSAT) expressed surprise at Tusk’s comments.

“We have not received any official communication from the Polish side,” VSAT spokesperson Giedrius Misutis said, LRT.lt reported.

He also questioned the premise of the move, stating that the vast majority of irregular migrants detained in Poland do not pass through Lithuania, but rather enter the EU through Latvia or directly via Belarus.

The border region between Belarus and the EU, particularly Poland, Lithuania and Latvia, has been under pressure since mid-2021, when Belarusian authorities were accused of orchestrating migrant flows into EU territory in retaliation for Western sanctions. Thousands of people, mainly from the Middle East and Africa, were flown to Minsk and directed toward EU borders, creating a humanitarian and political crisis.

In response, Poland and the Baltic States built physical barriers and tightened border control legislation. Lithuania, in particular, adopted a policy of pushbacks and border refusals, blocking 890 irregular entry attempts in 2025 alone. In 2024, there were over 1,000 such cases.

As reported by bne IntelliNews, Lithuania has filed a case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) accusing Belarus of orchestrating a migrant smuggling operation that triggered a regional border crisis and violated international law.