The migration pressure on the Polish-Belarusian border has ignited a debate on the use of pushbacks, which are banned by current and forthcoming EU regulations, with the Migration and Asylum Pact to be enforced in 2026 allowing for emergency declarations in response to crises intentionally caused by third countries – reported DGP.
The prolonged crisis at Poland's eastern border has significantly impacted the statistics for international protection applications, which surged by 79% to 5,800 in the first half of 2024.
This represents an increase of 3,400 applications, with many of these applicants having entered Poland via Belarus, according to the Office for Foreigners (UDSC) and reported by DGP.
Compared to last year, there is a noticeable increase in applicants from African countries, such as Somalia, Eritrea, and Ethiopia, as well as from the Middle East, including Syria and Afghanistan, who submit their applications after crossing the border from Belarus.
"Throughout the entire first half of the year, however, the largest groups of applicants were citizens of Ukraine (1750) and Belarus (1477), as well as Russia (547)," the article highlights.
By the end of June, the Office for Foreigners issued decisions for 4.7 thousand people, of which 3 thousand met the conditions for granting international protection.
These were primarily citizens of Belarus (1431) and Ukraine (1248), as well as Russia (117).
The latter group is also the nationality whose applications for international protection are most frequently rejected by Warsaw – in the first half of the year, 320 Russians, 50 Belarusians, and 45 Indians received negative decisions, according to DGP.
Source: DGP/PAP/IAR
(mp)
