Germany’s federal authorities have announced that border checks on all German borders, including those with Poland, will continue beyond March 2025. This decision is not surprising, given the lack of geopolitical breakthroughs in recent months. However, business owners, especially in Szczecin, are concerned. The heightened checks, noticeable since late 2024 and early 2025, are causing delays and challenges for cross-border commerce.
Could Lubieszyn Become Another Świecko?
Entrepreneurs in Szczecin, represented by the Northern Chamber of Commerce, acknowledge that the decision to extend stationary border checks between Poland and Germany beyond Q1 2025 was anticipated but remains disheartening. Cross-border economic relations had flourished, contributing to the development of an international metropolitan area benefiting both West Pomerania and German border towns.
“Our entrepreneurs, particularly in the transport sector, report that the number and intensity of checks have increased. Traffic at border crossings has been further complicated by recent road incidents. Combined with the checks, this creates a recipe for significant delays, frustrated drivers, and mounting financial losses,”
said Hanna Mojsiuk, President of the Northern Chamber of Commerce in Szczecin.
The checks are affecting all border crossings between Poland and Germany.
“In West Pomerania, we see many trucks stuck at the Kołbaskowo border crossing. While Lubieszyn has avoided major congestion, which is positive for cross-border workers traveling by car, we’ve received reports from colleagues in Słubice about enormous queues there. These delays are causing serious problems for the TSL sector and beyond,”
Mojsiuk added.
West Pomerania: A Strategic Base for Transport Companies
For the transport and logistics (TSL) sector, border checks mean long waiting times and lengthy inspections, delaying deliveries. While some hesitate to call this a crisis for West Pomerania’s transport industry, entrepreneurs agree that the intensified checks are a growing burden for companies crossing into Germany.
“Many companies chose Szczecin, Dołuje, Mierzyn, Przecław, and other nearby towns as bases for their operations because of their proximity to Germany. Our region was the perfect launch point for transportation to and from Germany. Now, the situation is becoming more complicated. While West Pomerania hasn’t reached the level of congestion seen in the Lubuskie region, where massive queues are forming at the border, we may face similar challenges soon. Entrepreneurs must prepare for this possibility,”
explained Przemysław Hołowacz, TSL expert and Business Development Director at CSL Group.
“Entrepreneurs won’t abandon transporting goods through Germany just yet. We’re not at that level of disruption,”
Hołowacz added.
Political Tensions and Future Challenges
TSL market experts note that extending border checks doesn’t necessarily mean they will become more intensive. However, as political events, including elections in Poland and Germany, draw closer, the discourse around this issue may grow more contentious.
For now, the situation remains a challenge, particularly for cross-border commerce and transport companies relying on the seamless movement of goods and services across the Polish-German border.
Source: ManagerPlus.pl
