Poland approves construction of anti-immigration wall

The cost of the wall is estimated at 353 million euros and will extend over 100 kilometers to the eastern border of the European Union.

From the Middle East

President Andrzej Duda has announced that he will implement the law as soon as it is approved by Parliament.

Since the summer, thousands of migrants, mostly from the Middle East, have crossed or attempted to cross the border from Belarus.

The European Union (EU) has accused Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko of bringing citizens of Middle East and African countries to Minsk in retaliation for EU sanctions on his administration, and then deporting them across the borders of Lithuania, Latvia and Poland.

In response, Poland imposed a state of emergency on the border, sending thousands of troops there and legalizing the controversial practice of direct refueling.

NGOs have warned that dangerous weather conditions will increase for the public.

Poland, one of the twelve EU member states, last week asked the European Union to fund the establishment of “barriers” at its borders.

However, European Commission President Ursula van der Leyen said Brussels would not fund the construction of barriers at EU borders.

Poland “under attack”

M.^Me Van der Leyen recalled the joint position of the Commission and the European Parliament at a summit in Brussels last week that “there is no financing for barbed wire and walls”.

Insisting that Poland was “under attack” by Belarus, Nationalist Prime Minister Matesz Moravic said last week that the wall was essential to “protect” Poland.

The state of emergency to prevent journalists and NGOs from reaching the border has become particularly controversial and the EU has called for “transparency”.

Eight days ago, the United Nations called for emergency action to save lives and prevent suffering after several refugees died on the border between the EU and Belarus.