Belarus-Poland border: MEPs to quiz Commission on the wall in Białowieża forest
On Thursday afternoon, plenary will look into the construction of a wall in the protected World Heritage Site of Białowieża primeval forest at the Polish border with Belarus.
Following the increased arrival of migrants and asylum-seekers from Belarus in 2021, the Polish authorities declared a state of emergency in the border region with Belarus and decided to build a border wall in order to prevent people from entering Polish territory. The work started in January 2022.
MEPs are likely to raise concerns about the treatment of migrants at this EU border and regarding the legality and environmental impact of the construction as it would affect several Natura 2000 sites, including Białowieża Primeval Forest, and could have a negative impact on protected species and habitats.
Background
During 2021, the Lukashenka regime in Belarus sponsored people’s travel, mostly from the Middle East, to the Belarusian borders with Poland, Latvia and Lithuania with the aim of facilitating their onward travel to EU member states. The EU responded with sanctions. The European Commission also proposed to temporarily modify the asylum, return and reception rules at the EU borders with Belarus for the benefit of Poland, Latvia and Lithuania, but so far the proposed measures have not been adopted.
Procedure: Commission statements, no resolution
Debate: Thursday, 5 May