At the border in Rosówek, the Border Guard will place a container at the citizens' checkpoint

Border Guard officers at the Rosówek border crossing attempted to place a container on Tuesday at the site of two so-called citizen patrol tents. It was agreed that they would be removed by evening. The container's installation was postponed until Wednesday.

The Border Guard's actions are related to the reintroduction of border controls on the Polish-German border on July 7th. On Tuesday morning, a group of officers arrived at the Rosówek border crossing with a container, which they intended to place in the spot where the so-called border defenders have been stationed for several weeks. A dispute ensued, as those volunteering to guard the border claimed that their station had been verbally approved by the voivode. Border Guard officers explained that they could not place the container elsewhere.

– Out of respect for the uniform, we will move – said PiS MP Artur Szałabawka, who arrived on Tuesday to support those on duty at the crossing and negotiate with Border Guard officers.

The container must be placed in a place that will fulfill its functions and will allow the road to be visible, emphasized Second Lieutenant Katarzyna Przybysz, spokeswoman for the Border Guard's Maritime Unit, in an interview with PAP.

– The location has been agreed with the General Directorate for National Roads and Motorways – she added.

The container will be located at the entrance to the parking lot, just beyond the Polish-German border. This is a so-called road lane. It is managed by the General Directorate for National Roads and Motorways (GDDKiA).

The spokesman for the Szczecin branch of the General Directorate for National Roads and Motorways (GDDKiA) told PAP that the Border Guard had applied for permission to set up a checkpoint on Tuesday.

"We issued such consent. We did not issue an opinion or consult on the location," Grzeszczuk noted.

In Rosówek, there is infrastructure that was once used by border guards, but for many years it has served other purposes. The Kołbaskowo commune has used the building for social housing, so a temporary container post is necessary.

Guards need a place to work to check data in the systems, call the officer on duty, or simply keep warm at night, Przybysz emphasized.

She emphasized that the actions of border services take priority over any grassroots initiatives. She assessed that there was no conflict at the Rosówek border crossing; the matter simply required clarification.

The so-called border defenders, of whom there were a dozen or so in Rosówek on Tuesday, argued that their station had been verbally agreed to by the West Pomeranian Voivode, Adam Rudawski.

We don't want to hinder the work of the services. We support our officers. But if we set up the tents in a different, new location, we could be quickly removed," argued PiS MP Artur Szałabawka.

An hour later, Szałabawka announced that the tents would be moved.

– We are looking for an amicable solution – said Szałabawka.

After 1 p.m., Border Guard officers began setting up the container, preparing concrete blocks, road posts, etc. After a few minutes, the border guards received an order by phone to complete the container setting operation on Wednesday.

There are 52 border crossings on the border with Germany, with permanent checks being carried out at 16 of them. According to the government, this is necessary to reduce the uncontrolled flow of migrants.

On July 7, Poland reintroduced temporary border controls with Germany and Lithuania for a month. Border Guard officers, supported by police and Territorial Defence Force soldiers, stop selected vehicles for random checks. On the Polish-German border, in the West Pomeranian, Lubusz, and Lower Silesian Voivodeships, up to 10,000 people are checked daily.

On Monday, Lower Silesian Deputy Voivode Piotr Sebastian Kozdrowicki announced that controls on the border with Germany "will certainly be extended for the next month and beyond."

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