The bridge that connects the German city of Frankfurt an der Oder and the Polish city of Slubice is quite a strange sight these days.

Rows of EU flags have been hoisted on it and on either side of it. Those crossing from the German side see a sign that reads "Frankfurt Oder - Slubice" and the words "Ohne Grenzen. Bez Granic" — "without borders" in German and Polish.

But the slogan, which both cities have been using in their joint marketing campaign for years now, no longer applies the way it used to.

Germany began carrying out spot checks at the border in October 2023, and Poland followed suit on Monday, July 7.

Poland has reinstated controls at 52 border crossings with Germany and 13 with Lithuania.

The checks on the Polish side, which were introduced by Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, are a response to the fact that Germany has toughened its migration policy.

On the instructions of German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt, the Federal Police have since May been allowed to refuse entry to asylum seekers attempting to cross the German border — an approach that is legally controversial and has become a hot button issue in Poland.

Just how strong emotions on the subject of migration are is evident here in the border region.

"It's all just a political show, manipulation. We don't feel threatened by migrants who are allegedly being sent back from Germany," says Arkadiusz from Poland, who is........

© Deutsche Welle