Ministers of the interior of 15 EU Member States sent a letter on migration to the President of the European Commission. ‘The letter makes it clear that the recently adopted pact is merely the starting point for the debate on the challenges of migration faced by the Community as a whole’, Deputy Minister Maciej Duszczyk pointed out. The letter raises a number of issues, including ensuring that EU Member States are able to effectively process applications as well as transfers and deportations of third-country nationals who are deemed ineligible for international protection or who may be eligible for using protection in third countries.

On Friday, 21 June, Minister Tomasz Siemoniak visited Berlin to meet Nancy Faeser, Minister of the Interior of the Federal Republic of Germany, and Gerhard Karner, her counterpart in the Republic of Austria. Their talks concerned the ongoing cooperation of uniformed services, the migration crisis and issues pertaining to the conflict in Ukraine.

On Friday, 7 June, President Andrzej Duda signed an amendment to the Law on Aid to Ukrainian Citizens in Response to the Conflict in the Territory of Ukraine and certain other laws. The bill extends the legality of residence of Ukrainian nationals until 30 September 2025 and brings a number of changes to measures designed to support refugees.

On Monday (March 4 of this year), Minister Marcin Kierwiński attended a meeting of the European Union Justice and Home Affairs Council (JHA) in Brussels. The meeting’s agenda included the issues of migration, the functioning of the Schengen Area, the situation on Poland’s eastern border, which is also the external border of the EU, and the assistance to Ukraine. Deputy Minister Maciej Duszczyk also attended the meeting.

An informal meeting of the EU Justice and Home Affairs Council (JHA) held in Brussels on Thursday, January 25 marked the beginning of the Belgian Presidency in the EU. Poland was represented by Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of the Interior and Administration Maciej Duszczyk.

In the Ministry of the Interior and Administration (MIA), work has begun on the creation of a comprehensive, responsible and safe migration strategy for Poland for the years 2025–2030. As was announced earlier, the schedule of actions was presented by Deputy Minister Maciej Duszczyk, who is responsible for international affairs and migration policy in MIA. The strategy adoption process will be concluded before Poland assumes the presidency of the Council of the European Union.

At a press conference held on Friday, 15 December, Minister Marcin Kierwiński presented the new leadership of the Ministry of the Interior and Administration. The new minister also outlined the division of responsibilities between deputy ministers. Secretary of State Czesław Mroczek, Secretary of State Wiesław Szczepański and Undersecretary of State Wiesław Leśniakiewicz also attended the press conference.

Following the emergence of a significant threat of illegal immigration, the Minister of the Interior and Administration Paweł Szefernaker has decided to extend the duration of temporarily reinstated border checks along the national border with the Slovak Republic for the period from 4 December 2023 to 2 January 2024, in order to ensure internal security and public order.

Following the emergence of a significant threat of illegal immigration, the Minister of the Interior and Administration has decided to extend the duration of temporarily reinstated border checks along the national border with the Slovak Republic for the period from 23 November 2023 to 3 December 2023, in order to ensure internal security and public order.

The Minister of the Interior and Administration announced his decision to extend the period of reinstated border checks of travellers crossing the Polish-Slovak border by 20 days, until 22 November 2023. The checks will be carried out only upon entry to Poland and crossing borders will be still allowed only at designated checkpoints. The aim of reinstating border checks is to curb irregular migration along the Balkan route. Travellers crossing the Polish-Slovak border should keep in mind to have their travel documents – an ID card or a passport – on them at all times.