It is a great honour for me to stand here before you and receive the Bridge Prize It is an award that recognizes our common human endeavour to bring about a peaceful world order I am particularly moved by the symbolism of this prize here in the historic city of Görlitz/Zgorzelec which was long cut in two but has grown from this experience and today stands as an example of unity and cooperation.  It is a city that transcends borders and was rebuilt by the desire for peace The bridges that connect people here are a reminder of the strength and persistence of a shared belief in a better future As the president of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) I am fully aware of the importance and responsibility of our mission: to uphold standards of humanity in the midst of conflict to build bridges across ideological divides to act neutrally and impartially; and to remind all involved that there are limits that must never be transgressed.  Our work to promote and enforce the law did not come about by chance. Universally valid agreements such as those enshrined in international humanitarian law not only establish a binding framework for limiting human suffering which came into being in 1949 and have since been ratified by all states offer a vital key to political leaders for bringing about peace today Through impartial advocacy and perseverance we can create spaces where hostile parties can recognise each other’s humanity and find a path to rapprochement This bridge-building aspect of my current role meshes  with the values of the Bridge Prize following as I do in the footsteps of past laureates whose work is closely connected to the humanitarian values of my organization the former Polish foreign minister and Auschwitz survivor who used his voice to defend human rights and build bridges between peoples divided by history compassion and reconciliation reflects the ICRC's own mission: to show the world that humanity must be preserved even in war.  respecting their rights and responsibilities and taking these seriously is more important today than ever before.  I witness first-hand how polarization and unfettered violence destroy entire communities who are repeatedly displaced and lack the food medical care and safe haven that they so desperately need.  The Geneva Conventions make up the cornerstone of international humanitarian law – a catalogue of principles born of the desire to limit suffering in wartime The conventions also form a bridge – a link between war and peace I know full well that international law does not prohibit war There is a “right to wage war” and there are “laws of war”. Civilian casualties in war may even be considered legally justifiable depending on the context and point of view.  The Geneva Conventions lay down that even in war civilians protected and the wounded cared for is that international humanitarian law does not quantify the justifiable level of suffering and destruction.  though – and this is what I would particularly like to stress here today – all military or armed operations that use the suffering of the civilian population to achieve their goals are morally highly reprehensible.  For if we follow not just the letter but also the spirit of the law then the crux of the matter is this: that human dignity must be preserved under all circumstances For if humanity is negated and the equal rights of the enemy denied and people are held collectively responsible then the boundaries of what is justifiable have already been crossed and a return to peace will be an illusion for generations.  One question must always be asked: what kind of victory do we want History has shown time and again that dehumanizing the enemy ultimately drags all sides to a conflict into the abyss.  is having the courage to use political means to pave the way back to normality.  for instance the negotiation of ceasefires is nothing more than a tool for engaging in dialogue with political decision-makers military commanders and people who may even regard the intermediary as an adversary The work of neutral humanitarian players is most effectively supported when heads of state politicians and diplomats take it upon themselves to remind their allies of their shared responsibility to protect civilians to treat prisoners of war and the wounded with decency and to uphold the principles of international humanitarian law.  I see diplomacy ultimately as an instrument in the service of peace.  Diplomacy is an act that combines reason and compassion with determination My organization has taken on the task of reminding those in power that they have a duty towards the people they serve a duty to comply with universal values; and that the world community will not withstand the decline of human dignity without harm Diplomacy as a bridge-builder between war and the responsibility to protect requires perseverance the conviction that our common humanity cannot be thrown into the balance; that every human being is equal before the law.  Yet respect for international humanitarian law is more than just a duty It is an opportunity to de-escalate violence and pave the way to peace When conflict parties are prepared to distinguish between civilians and combatants spare towns and cities and provide humanitarian aid but they also create a basis for reconciliation How wars are fought also determines how and when they will end Treating the enemy humanely – protecting those not taking part in hostilities – increases the chances that both sides will one day achieve peace A victory “at all costs” is not a victory at all as it leaves societies in ruins and sows the seeds for the next conflict.  International humanitarian law allows us to conceive a different kind of victory – one that aims at a mutual peace agreement; a victory that always includes the possibility of returning to the negotiating table.  I stress to them that respect for international humanitarian law is not just a guideline It is first and foremost an obligation on the part of states to ensure greater security and stability for their own citizens.  When conflict parties undertake to protect women and children to release wounded soldiers and prisoners of war Humanitarian action thus becomes a powerful tool for peace – a tool that preserves a space in which trust can be rebuilt the Red Cross faces the constant challenge of creating and maintaining this humanitarian space misinterpretation and even harsh criticism Our neutrality and impartiality stand as a beacon in times of great conflict and geopolitical tension They enable us to treat all sides with respect build relationships across divides and constantly find new ways to alleviate the suffering of civilians at least a little Our work carries on even in the most dangerous regions of the world It is proof of the persistence of humanity and the courage needed to uphold our humanitarian principles even in the most adverse circumstances When the ICRC treats wounded soldiers on both sides of the front secures the release of prisoners or reunites families across front lines we show that humanitarian work is a bridge that no division can sever Whenever commanders instruct their troops to protect hospitals or allow aid supplies into besieged areas this creates moments of shared human agency but they build the foundation without which lasting peace would not be possible Every act that respects international humanitarian law every gesture of compassion in times of need The city of Görlitz/Zgorzelec is well aware of the power of such bridges where the Neisse river once separated families we can see the strength that is necessary in order to start anew.  brings us to the following universal truth: that a common human behaviour underlies all differences It reminds us that in every negotiation process every act of assistance and every person we meet we reaffirm our recognition of the dignity and right to exist of others.  It is a bridge to peace in its purest form This is why independent and neutral intermediaries are so necessary; as are people committed to upholding peaceful coexistence.  The inherent neutrality of the International Red Cross opens doors that would otherwise be closed It enables us to maintain communication channels and promote mutual respect between conflict parties This trust is not earned lightly – it requires dedication persistence and an unwavering commitment to treating everyone equally regardless of who they are and what they believe in neutrality as a bridge-builder requires courage and endurance Both of these characteristics are reflected in the unity that Görlitz/Zgorzelec has so painstakingly built The Bridge Prize spurs me to continue along this path and to stand by my many colleagues around the world in their tireless the National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and their many volunteers who report to duty every day These are often young people who are working in crisis areas the Bridge Prize is not an end it itself but rather a testimony to the work that still lies ahead of us that the path to peace may be fraught with difficulty united in our commitment to humanity and guided by the conviction that peace is not just possible but indispensable I would like to thank the International Bridge Award Society for the honour bestowed upon me today I would especially like to thank President Gerda Hasselfeld We are bound by mutual trust and close co-operation which I  personally cherish and uphold.  reviews and other resources dedicated to humanitarian impact Terms and conditions - ICRC ©2025 - All right reserved We use cookies to improve your experience on our site. 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You don't have permission to access the page you requested What is this page?The website you are visiting is protected.For security reasons this page cannot be displayed Mar 10, 2025 | Law, Politics, Society Notes from Poland is run by a small editorial team and is published by an independent non-profit foundation that is funded through donations from our readers We cannot do what we do without your support The mayor of a Polish town on the German border has announced that he will file a complaint to the European Parliament regarding Germany’s ongoing border checks which he says effectively amount to the suspension of the Schengen Agreement and are causing significant traffic disruption people can cross the Polish-German border without any checks as both countries are part of the Schengen Area that covers most of Europe However, in autumn 2023, Germany introduced controls on its borders with Poland and the Czech Republic citing a surge of irregular migrants arriving through those countries These measures, though theoretically only temporary, have been repeatedly renewed and remain in place. Last year, they were expanded to cover all of Germany’s borders Awantura na granicy. Burmistrz Zgorzelca ma dosyćhttps://t.co/HuKvklyJsk — Tygodnik Solidarność (@Tysol) March 9, 2025 which sits along the Lusatian Neisse River that marks the border between Poland and Germany traffic congestion resulting from German border checks has become a persistent problem When German police conduct vehicle inspections on a nearby motorway border crossing traffic slows and navigation systems redirect drivers through the town argues that Germany’s border controls amount to an informal suspension of the Schengen Agreement His office told news website Wirtualna Polska that Gronicz will send a petition to the European Parliament to highlight the issue Border controls within the Schengen Area can only be introduced temporarily in response to a serious threat to internal security and must adhere to the principle of proportionality “We do not question Germany’s right to ensure security but these controls regularly bring our town to a standstill,” Renata Burdosz They hope the petition will draw the attention of European lawmakers and pressure German authorities to reconsider their approach Gronicz says he has been raising concerns about the issue since November 2023 including reaching out to the head of the neighbouring German state of Saxony and the head of the German federal policy in the nearby German town of Ludwigsdorf Earlier this year, a Polish resident of Görlitz, the German town on the other side of the river from Zgorzelec, also announced that he had launched legal action against the German authorities over the border controls Poland’s government has also expressed frustration at Germany’s actions, with Prime Minister Donald Tusk calling the border controls “unacceptable” last year told Wirtualna Polska that the issue is a key point in Polish-German discussions A Pole who lives along the Polish-German border has filed a lawsuit against Germany for the border controls it has introduced The measures are intended to prevent illegal immigration, but he says they violate free-movement rules in the Schengen Area https://t.co/If6EJMA2Lw — Notes from Poland 🇵🇱 (@notesfrompoland) January 4, 2025 announced earlier this year that if Germany continues to implement its “absurd” border controls it will raise the issue with the European Commission has not indicated plans to lift the controls the country’s likely incoming chancellor has promised to “massively extend” border controls Merz has also pledged to be even tougher on turning away asylum seekers at the border. At the weekend, a group of Polish protesters blocked a bridge on the border during a demonstration against Germany returning migrants to Poland A bridge on the Polish-German border was today blocked by a protest against "Germany flooding Poland with migrants" The organisers claimed that "the EU, Germany and [Polish] government want to bring culturally alien migrants to Poland" https://t.co/q9oXlYYY74 — Notes from Poland 🇵🇱 (@notesfrompoland) March 8, 2025 Main image credit: Adam Kliczek / Wikimedia.org (under CC BY-SA 3.0) Alicja Ptak is senior editor at Notes from Poland and a multimedia journalist , , Karol Nawrocki even suggested that the state security services were involved in creating the scandal , , The 1,200 square metre national symbol was unfurled on the beach in Międzyzdroje , , The proportion of Poles saying the US has a positive influence on the world has also fallen to its lowest recorded level Apr 30, 2025 | , , , That response will include “large Polish and NATO exercises in Poland” Apr 29, 2025 | , , , Those employed in Poland work on average the third-longest hours in the European Union Apr 28, 2025 | , , , , Westinghouse and Bechtel were first chosen in 2022 as partners on the 192 billion zloty ($51 billion) project please consider helping us to continue and expand it [email protected] Copyright © 2025 Notes From Poland | Design jurko studio | Code by 2sides.pl Senior Research Fellow at the Global Europe Centre ARTICLES BY THIS AUTHOR Weronika Strzyżyńska is currently studying journalism at Goldsmiths as a Scott Trust Bursary recipient She  has written on issues immigration and Brexit for New Statesman and Prospect Agnieszka Wądołowska is managing editor of Notes from Poland She has previously worked for Gazeta.pl and Tokfm.pl and contributed to Gazeta Wyborcza ARTICLES BY THIS AUTHOR ARTICLES BY THIS AUTHOR Daniel Tilles is editor-in-chief of Notes from Poland and assistant professor of history at the Pedagogical University of Krakow He has written on Polish affairs for a wide range of publications The Independent and Dziennik Gazeta Prawna ARTICLES BY THIS AUTHOR Stanley Bill is the founder and editor-at-large of Notes from Poland.He is also Senior Lecturer in Polish Studies and Director of the Polish Studies Programme at the University of Cambridge Stanley has spent more than ten years living in Poland He founded Notes from Poland in 2014 as a blog dedicated to personal impressions cultural analysis and political commentary He is committed to the promotion of deeper knowledge and understanding of Poland He is the Chair of the Board of the Notes from Poland Foundation ARTICLES BY THIS AUTHOR ARTICLES BY THIS AUTHOR Professor of European Studies at Oxford University ARTICLES BY THIS AUTHOR Professor at the Institute of History of the Jagiellonian University ARTICLES BY THIS AUTHOR Executive Director of Taube Family Foundation ARTICLES BY THIS AUTHOR Associate Professor at the Institute of Political Studies of the Polish Academy of Science ARTICLES BY THIS AUTHOR ARTICLES BY THIS AUTHOR ARTICLES BY THIS AUTHOR Show Breaking News BarCloseLocal NewsHolly Galvan Posey Born in 1980 in Zgorzelec Piotr Piela’s childhood dream of becoming a sailor was evident from an early age With a determination that grew over the years eventually earning a spot at the prestigious Maritime University in Szczecin Piotr’s longing for home was palpable during his time at sea Fond memories of family and hometown drew him back whenever possible yet his adventures on the open water became his sanctuary it was his mysterious disappearance from the ship BBC Ecuador in the port of the Galveston Bay that left his loved ones grappling for answers Jumping overboard with only 70 meters separating him from shore those who knew Piotr strongly deny such claims emphasizing his zest for life and unwavering spirit SEE ALSO: Missing in Houston: 14 years later, Ali Lowitzer remains missing without a trace “The detective who investigated the case right after Piotr jumped out of the ship thought it was suicide He asked for permission to disembark and was denied permission He jumped out of the ship and was 70 meters from the shore,” Piotr’s mother Asia Piela explained the passage of time has done little to ease the ache of his absence Despite endless prayers and tireless efforts I pray for him and I don’t even know if he’s alive he started a family there because he really wanted to but we parents want to know if they are good or help them when they are bad Piotr is like a soap bubble - he is there and he is not there Piotr’s mother has journeyed to America twice in search of any leads Each passing day only serves to deepen the yearning for Piotr’s return a sentiment echoed by his family who refuse to let his memory fade SEE ALSO: Texas EquuSearch locates possible remains of Kay-Alana Turner my parents - they are waiting,” Asia explained no longer believes that he will meet his brother We are all waiting and no one forgets about Piotrek even for a moment.” Piotr has a scar after an operation on his chest He started the tattoo removal process however he never completed it Anyone with information is encouraged to call the Port of Galveston Police Department at 409-766-6169 Missing in Houston is a weekly column highlighting people missing from the Houston area. If your loved one is missing email hgalvan@kprc.com Copyright 2024 by KPRC Click2Houston - All rights reserved Holly joined the KPRC 2 digital team in March 2024 leveraging her eight years of expertise in blogging and digital content to share her passion for Houston she enjoys exploring the city's vibrant scenes all while balancing her roles as a wife and mother to two toddlers TV Listings Email Newsletters RSS Feeds Contests and Rules Contact Us Meet the Team Careers at KPRC Closed Captioning / Audio Description Public File Current EEO Report Terms of Use Privacy Policy Do Not Sell My Info FCC Applications Copyright © 2025 Click2Houston.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group Following the 2023 call for proposals for cross-border renewable energy projects, CINEA has signed Grant Agreements with three studies and two works projects for a total CEF support of over €67 million. They will supports the implementation of the already selected cross-border renewable energy projects (CB RES) This is a significant milestone for these projects to advance in their implementation.  four new CB RES preparatory studies projects signed their grant agreements for a total CEF support of more than €1 million The newly signed actions cover areas such as green hydrogen production and offshore wind Preparatory studies can assist project promoters in selecting the best project concept and setting up the cooperation agreement allowing for projects to be supported prior to having acquired the official status of a CB RES project.  Since the launch in 2021, 8 projects have acquired the CB RES status and 14 actions were supported with CEF funding. The total committed CEF funding is of €91.1 million, covering 10 Member States. The full portfolio of approved projects can be found on the CINEA dashboard. Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker Xavi Pascual's side are now eight for eight in the Euroleague following a comprehensive victory over the bottom side in their group, Polish outfit PGE Turow Zgorzelec. Barça dominated from start to finish but it was in the second and third quarters when the blaugranes took hold of the contest in Poland. Barça started quickly and once ahead they never relinquished the lead, starting with three pointers from Oleson and Thomas, they continued to control the game and ended the first quarter with a 20-16 lead. In the second quarter the blaugranes pressed home their advantage with some impressive basketball, Doellman, Tomic and Nachbar all helping to give the visitors a 43-27 lead at half time. Turow started the third quarter well but it was just a mirage as Barça outscored them 36-12 with successive dunks from Satoransky and Hezonja only serving to outline their superiority. Pascual's side had a lead of 81-43 in the third quarter that was extended in the final period, reaching an advantage of 42 points at 104-62 before a final three pointer from Turow's Taylor made it 104-65 at the hooter. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. "We are talking about a group of about 15 to 20 people," prosecutors said adding that the group was characterized by "racist and in some cases apocalyptic ideas."  "Its members are connected by a deep rejection of the free and democratic order" of Germany The statement said the group plotted to seize power in the state of Saxony and potentially other eastern German states "to establish governmental and societal structures inspired by National Socialism." "Even ethnic cleansing was part of their inhuman plans," Justice Minister Marco Buschmann said in a statement adding that the arrests showed the importance of protecting Germany's free and democratic order from threats "from many sides." "We must do everything we can to defend our liberal democracy against its enemies," he said Calling themselves the Sächsische Separatisten or "Saxon Separatists," the group was planning for what they called the "collapse" of civilization in order to bring about "a national socialist order" in politics and society Its members carried out paramilitary training with firearms and protective equipment "The use of weapons and military equipment shows how dangerous these right-wing extremists are," said German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser The eight arrests were made in several locations in the eastern German state of Saxony and in neighboring Poland Authorities also searched premises tied to the group's members in Austria German news agency DPA reported that the oldest suspect was 25 years old The prosecutor's office said there had been an injury during one of the arrests and that the circumstances were still being investigated Several German media outlets including public broadcaster ARD reported that Kurt H was wounded in the jaw after police fired a warning shot Several right-wing groups in Germany are preoccupied with the so-called collapse, or "day X." Most famously the group led by former soldier Franco A. whose plot to assassinate left-leaning politicians came to light in 2018 relevant for a total of seven Member States These are a hybrid offshore wind park between Estonia and Latvia a cross-border district heating grid based on RES between Germany and Poland and a project to produce renewable electricity in Italy transport and use of green hydrogen in the Netherlands and Germany projects are now eligible for financial support for studies and works under the CEF Programme The realisation of the projects in the first CB RES list will make an important contribution to the increased renewable energy ambition under the European Green Deal as well as to the objectives of the REPowerEU will monitor the implementation of the CB RES projects and will soon make available information on the status of the projects via a public portal On 5 August the Commission awarded EUR 300.000 for two studies that support pioneering actions representing diverse options of cross-border cooperation These studies aim to help the beneficiaries to advance their project concepts and develop them into successful applicants for a status of a CB RES project later on The first study will investigate the feasibility of a supra-regional supply of district heating in the regions of southern Germany (Bavaria) and Austria (Upper Austria and Salzburg) The second one will support the environmental impact assessment of a project for up to 2GW of cross-border offshore wind farms in the Gulf of Riga area located in Estonian and Latvian waters The Delegated Regulation establishing the list of CB RES projects will go through a standard procedure of 2 months scrutiny period by the European Parliament and the Council The projects which are included in the list will be able to apply for the upcoming call for proposals for works & studies under CEF Energy foreseen to be launched in November 2022 The three projects that made it to the list are: CLIMATE-NEUTRAL DISTRICT HEATING IN THE EUROPEAN CITY GOERLITZ-ZGORZELEC Goerlitz (DE) and Zgorzelec (PL) will invest into RES heat generation and connect its district heating networks with a cross-border pipeline to jointly supply the European city with climate-neutral district heating based on a RES generation of 160 GWh per year a feasibility study is being carried out; the next step is to develop a concept for the transformation of the heat supply of the cities of Goerlitz and Zgorzelec respecting CO2 neutrality Scenarios are to be developed and the use of regenerative technologies that can replace the currently used heat supply systems will be investigated The project is expected to be realised by 2026 CEO-ALLIANCE CROSS-BORDER-EUROPEAN GREEN HYDROGEN VALUE CHAIN additional renewable power plants in Italy Spain and Germany and then convert the green power produced to green hydrogen and/or ammonia Part of the ammonia will be used for off-takers directly in the Netherlands but the bulk part will be converted to hydrogen and transported to Germany for further utilisation what is necessary to make the low-carbon transition a success story ELWIND - ESTONIAN LATVIAN JOINT HYBRID OFFSHORE WIND PROJECT The ELWIND project is an offshore wind project comprising an hybrid grid connection with interconnector and transmission lines to connect the two countries and aiming for an annual renewable electricity output of about 3 to 3,5 TWh per year The plan is to build two offshore wind parks The aim is to pilot a cross-border hybrid project concept in the Baltic-Sea for replication in other locations and to improve the security of supply in the region Other news about CB RES Mar 24, 2025 | Politics, Society Hundreds of people have protested on the Polish-German border against deportations of migrants and asylum seekers by Germany to Poland The organiser of the event warned that “the EU and Germany want to destroy the Polish nation” by using migrants as part of a “hybrid war against Poland” The protest received support from Poland’s main national-conservative opposition party The party’s presidential candidate “thanked Polish patriots” for “guarding the border” which he claimed has been left unprotected by the government — wPolsce24 🇵🇱 #TuJestPolska (@wPolscepl) March 23, 2025 On Saturday, demonstrators gathered at a bridge connecting the Polish town of Zgorzelec with Görlitz in Germany. Their protest – titled “Stop Germany from flooding Poland with migrants” – followed a similar though smaller one at a border bridge between Słubice and Frankfurt an der Oder two weeks earlier Banners were displayed saying “Germany don’t leave your guests on our doorstep” Protesters chanted “This is Poland” and “Down with the European Union” Organisers claimed that thousands attended the latest protest though media reports indicate the number was more likely in the hundreds Among them was a small group who arrived wearing face coverings and displaying extremist symbols such as the Celtic cross and a banner saying “White Front” they were criticised by other participants Tak działają prowokatorzy.Zakłócili pokojowy protest przeciwko nielegalnym imigrantom 📺#wPolsce24 | 🇵🇱 #TuJestPolska Subskrybuj nasz kanał 👉 https://t.co/cby8MJUntf pic.twitter.com/es0SxHNykr — wPolsce24 🇵🇱 #TuJestPolska (@wPolscepl) March 23, 2025 The protests have been organised in response to the fact that Germany each year sends back hundreds of asylum seekers who applied for protection in Poland before moving to Germany while their claim is still being processed All EU countries have the right to carry out such returns under the so-called Dublin Regulation Meanwhile, since Germany reintroduced border controls with Poland in 2023, it has also been turning back thousands of migrants at the border if they do not have the legal right to be in Germany Donald Tusk says Poland will no longer comply with the EU's Dublin Regulation which allows asylum seekers to be returned to the member state in which they first arrived The @EU_Commission reminded Poland that it must "fully comply with asylum rules" https://t.co/GCDRzFQ9hG — Notes from Poland 🇵🇱 (@notesfrompoland) March 21, 2025 “Germany is waging a hybrid war against Poland,” said Bąkiewicz “The EU and Germany want to destroy the Polish state and the Polish nation PiS MP Janusz Kowalski said that “no one here is defending the Polish border” He called for Poland to introduce controls on the border PiS-backed presidential candidate Karol Nawrocki also declared his support for those opposing the “illegal migrants flowing into Poland through the western Polish border” “The Polish state is not fulfilling its obligations to protect our western border,” he declared “[The border] is not guarded by the Polish state the number of asylum seekers returned by Germany to Poland was higher in 2023 after Tusk’s coalition had come to power Germany plans to open a new "departure centre" on the border with Poland that will speed up the deportation of asylum seekers who have submitted claims in other EU member states but then come to Germany https://t.co/GCdNOoadcF — Notes from Poland 🇵🇱 (@notesfrompoland) February 17, 2025 Bąkiewicz distanced himself from the more radical elements who appeared at the protest he said that they “had nothing to do with the organisers” of the event and had appeared as a “provocation” He claimed police had refused his requests to remove the group “It all looked like a setup – perfect for German propaganda and to denigrate Polish patriots,” said Bąkiewicz He shared an image of the headline of a news report on the protest by German tabloid Bild that said “Polish neo-Nazis protest against refugees from Germany” Bąkiewicz demanded that the newspaper “remove false statements” from its report – including calling him an “extremist” – and apologise he pledged to take legal action against Bild for “spreading lies and slander” Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren, Redaktion @BILD Im Zusammenhang mit Ihrem veröffentlichten Artikel, der ursprünglich den Titel „Grenze in Görlitz dicht: Polen-Neonazis protestieren gegen Flüchtlinge aus Deutschland“ (polnische Übersetzung: „Granica w Görlitz zamknięta:… pic.twitter.com/ugyp7j6cJ8 — Robert Bąkiewicz (@RBakiewicz) March 23, 2025 Daniel Tilles is editor-in-chief of Notes from Poland [email protected] Jan 4, 2025 | Law, Politics, Society A Polish resident of a town on the border between Germany and Poland has filed a lawsuit against the German authorities for the border controls they have introduced The measures are intended to prevent illegal immigration but he says they violate free-movement rules I would like to show that EU citizens do not consent to the destruction of the achievements of almost 40 years of the Schengen Area,” said Jakub Wolinski referring to the zone covering most of Europe in which border controls are theoretically abolished “We are guaranteed freedom of movement but the ongoing controls have a disastrous impact on life in border regions,” Wolinski told Polish news website Wirtualna Polska “This is an attack on the civil rights of residents.” "Polak żyjący na pograniczu polsko-niemieckim miał dość nękania i utrudnień wywołanych kontrolami granicznymi wprowadzonymi przez niemiecką policję. Wynajął adwokata i podał do sądu Republikę Federalną Niemiec o naruszenie zapisów Kodeksu Schengen"https://t.co/umM0rYLuol — Andrzej Krajewski (@AWMKrajewski) January 2, 2025 Wolinski lives in the German town of Görlitz but regularly travels to Zgorzelec in Poland which lies immediately across the Lusatian Neisse River that marks the border between the two countries In normal times, that would involve quickly crossing a bridge between the two towns without any checks. But in October 2023, Germany introduced controls on its borders with Poland and the Czech Republic in response to increased crossings by irregular migrants from outside the EU through those countries In September 2024, Germany expanded those controls to its borders with all neighbouring countries as Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s government felt increasing domestic pressure to clamp down on immigration A bridge between Görlitz and Zgorzelec, pictured in 2018 (image credit: amanderson2/Flickr, under CC BY 2.0) border controls within the Schengen zone are not permitted But they can be introduced “in the event of a serious threat to internal security” this can only happen “as a last resort measure and must respect the principle of proportionality” who says he now has to go through arduous border checks every day believes that Germany’s actions do not meet these legal requirements He also claims to have faced “harassment” by the German police who carry out the checks he has filed a case at the administrative court in Dresden against the Federal Republic of Germany and the regional branch of the federal police “Due to the negative and generally unfriendly tone of communication with German [state] offices my attorney and I came to the conclusion that the only option left for us is to take legal action,” he told Wirtualna Polska Poland’s government has also expressed frustration at Germany’s border controls, with Prime Minister Donald Tusk calling them “unacceptable” last year “I am surprised by the lack of reaction from the governments of neighbouring countries because they could easily take the German federal government to the Court of Justice of the European Union and demand penalties,” he said “In Zgorzelec, but probably also in Słubice and other [Polish] border towns we will not forget this inaction of the current [Polish] government,” added Wolinski Polish Prime Minister @donaldtusk has criticised Germany's "unacceptable" decision to reinstate controls on all of its borders He says Poland will seek "urgent consultations" at the EU level with other affected countries https://t.co/jvGJng2biN — Notes from Poland 🇵🇱 (@notesfrompoland) September 10, 2024 Germany’s government is planning to further extend its border controls which are currently due to expire in March 2025 In an interview with the Augsburger Allgemeine newspaper this week federal home affairs minister Nancy Faeser said that extending the measures would be necessary “until the protection of the EU’s external borders is clearly strengthened” She said that the border controls and other measures “are having an effect” with “approximately 1,800 smugglers arrested and around 40,000 people turned away at the borders” Germany has so far this year sent back over 4,600 people to Poland who attempted to illegally enter the country across the Polish border Around half of them were Ukrainian, with the next largest national groups being Syrians and Afghans https://t.co/TIbHDzGk7A — Notes from Poland 🇵🇱 (@notesfrompoland) June 27, 2024 In June 2024, the German federal police revealed that, in the year up to that point, they had sent back over 4,600 people to Poland who attempted to illegally enter Germany with the next largest national groups being Syrians and Afghans Since 2021, many of the irregular migrants arriving in Germany have first entered the EU across Poland’s border with Belarus whose authorities have encouraged and helped them to cross Poland's government has approved tougher new migration rules intended to "take back control" of borders including by suspending the right to claim asylum "We have launched a ruthless fight against illegal immigration," said Prime Minister @donaldtusk https://t.co/RSTP293oRb — Notes from Poland 🇵🇱 (@notesfrompoland) December 18, 2024 All image credits: Adam Kliczek, http://memoriesstay.com (under CC-BY-SA-3.0) , , Poland has recorded the strongest rise in consumer sentiment across the EU this year [email protected] has successfully completed the sale of it’s prime logistics scheme in Zgorzelec The asset was held in JV with Panattoni and sold to Arete Investment Group Strategically located next to the German border along the A4 highway this state-of-the-art facility provides unparalleled access to Germany and key consumer markets across Central Europe Split across two buildings totalling 65,000 SQM the logistics hub currently houses two institutional tenants in the global logistics and healthcare equipment sectors on long-term leases highlighting the hub’s strategic positioning in serving businesses’ supply chain needs in the region it offers excellent connectivity for goods transport linking Zgorzelec to the rail terminal in Kodersdorf and Leipzig Airport Germany’s second-largest airfreight hub reinforces its role as a crucial European logistics centre The facility’s BREEAM Excellent certification highlights Kajima Properties’ commitment to sustainability on all of its development projects across Europe Jan Trybulski, Investment Director and Head of Poland, said: “The Zgorzelec scheme is an example of a high-end, sustainable warehouse developed in a strategic location in Poland. The sale of this scheme demonstrates liquidity in the Polish market and shows demand for high quality logistics is strong despite more challenging economic environment.” Routing and Scheduling Software now Available in Polish Language Logistics Business © 2025 All Rights Reserved. | Privacy | Terms | Site Map Subscribe to our quarterly magazine and weekly newsletter to stay updated with the logistics industry By submitting this form you agree that the personal data you provided will be transferred to Logistics Business for processing in accordance with our Privacy Policy The Czech hotel sector saw a transaction volume of EUR 340 miln in Q1 2025 Prime rents in Prague city centre reached EUR 30 in the first quarter of the year and the vacancy rate continues to decline according to the latest research from Prague Research Forum Segro European Logistics Partnership (SELP) has acquired a fully leased warehouse park in Sázava near Prague CA Immo exits non-core market Serbia with the sale of the 19,600 sqm office building Sava Business Center in Belgrade Both the sales price and the buyer are subject to confidentiality As the PBSA sector finally takes off in Poland it is now increasingly attracting international operators and investors Eurobuild CEE spoke to Xior's investment manager about why it has such confidence in the Polish market Residential developer Develia has signed a preliminary agreement to acquire all the shares in Bouygues Immobilier Polska the Polish subsidiary of Bouygues Immobilier ESA logistika has leased 15,000 sqm in Prologis Park Piotrków GLP has completed the development of its Wrocław V Logistics Centre and has received a BREEAM rating of Outstanding Panattoni has secured EUR 40 mln in financing from BNP Paribas for the development of Panattoni Park Sosnowiec IV Newgate Investment (NGI) and Redkom Development are developing a large retail park in Bydgoszcz Deutsche Hypo – NORD/LB Real Estate Finance has provided a five-year green loan to Olivia Seven for the refinancing of the Olivia Prime A office building in Gdańsk-Oliwa communications and security company Motorola Solutions has signed a five-year lease renewal 18,000 sqm at the Green Office complex in Kraków’s Podgórze district Falling interest rates and easing monetary policy across the eurozone and CEEi are boosting investor confidence in the region’s commercial real estate market reveals Colliers in its ‘Beyond Real Estate | Economy’ report Panattoni is to build the Panattoni Park Mainz Süd in Erbes-Büdesheim bei Alzey Axi Immo has presented its latest report “Warsaw Office Market – Q1 2025 The market opened in 2025 on a steady footing with a notable increase in leasing activity and a modest decline in vacancy landlords continue to focus on upgrading existing assets and prioritizing quality over quantity Convenience store chain Żabka has officially opened a new logistics centre in Kąty Wrocławskie The first stage of the development will serve 1,500 stores in the Wrocław area Romanian Post has leased over 5,000 sqm of logistics space in CTPark Bucharest to serve as its temporary regional courier and logistics hub for Bucharest JLL has announced the sale and leaseback of two properties by a manufacturing company in a deal worth over PLN 1 bln Warehouse developer CTP is adding 2,000 sqm to its Clubco coworking development in Brno which specialises in temperature-controlled goods is to enlarge its freezer warehouse in Radomsko by an additional 4,800 sqm it will be the company's largest distribution centre in Poland Footwear retailer Deichmann has prolonged its lease of 21,000 sqm in Prologis Park Wrocław III The company has been in the park since 2011 The grand opening of DPD's 18,000 sqm logistics hub at Segro Logistics Park Stryków took place on 14 April 2025 The courier company currently leases a total of more than 35,000 sqm across Segro's portfolio in Poland The largest Polish ice cube manufacturer has increased the space it leases at the MLP Pruszków II warehouse complex to 7,200 sqm an Oligocene well has been drilled to meet the tenant's needs Peakside Capital Advisors and Partners Group have laid the cornerstone for the City Point Okęcie logistics centre Panattoni has completed the expansion of Panattoni Park Koluszki in Central Poland and obtained an occupancy permit Axi Immo has presented its latest market analysis in the special publication "Central Poland Industrial Snapshot" the region recorded a historic high in industrial and logistics leasing activity A 15,300 sqm hi-tech production hall has opened in Debrecen developed by Panattoni Hungary and the OTP Real Estate Investment Fund a company that specialises in LED light therapy and pharmaceuticals distributor Avenier have both signed leases for space in CTPark Plzeň Kasárny Mito Light is to take up 556 sqm while Avenier has leased 588 sqm with the handover planned for the autumn of 2025 With warehouse and industrial stock of nearly 35 mln sqm Poland’s market has stabilised at a healthy level Logistics operator DB Schenker has leased an additional 9,800 sqm in the Hillwood Rawicz logistics centre The tenant has been operating from the centre since the autumn of last year when it opened a service centre with an area of over 17,000 sqm for a manufacturer of optical products More than 2.6 mln sqm of industrial and logistics space was delivered across Poland in 2024 according to BNP Paribas Real Estate Poland’s latest report "At a Glance While this was below the new supply levels recorded in previous years Spring has very much sprung and everywhere is bathed in the first warm sunshine of the year I have in the back of my mind the terrifying fo .. The Polish warehouse market has finally stabilised after the post-pandemic boom but new challenges and opportunities are on the horizon for the sector UBM Development has been given the go-ahead for the first wooden office building in Poland: Timber Park in Poleczki Business Park in Warsaw The office market in Warsaw is currently experiencing a period of stability in terms of supply and take-up Recent data on overall tenant activity indicates that clients in the cap .. Receive all the latest information from the world of real estate by e-mail the construction of the Aura residential building designed by Robert Konieczny's office KWK Promes According to a report by research company Spectis “Construction companies in Poland 2025-2030” the total revenues of the 300 leading construction gro .. The Globalworth Foundation has provided the authorities in Bucharest with office space for a Covid vaccination centre Panattoni BTS and Commercecon together support the establishment of the second Centaurus Foundation centre in Poland to help horses and other animals intends to focus on operations in other reg .. Six class A office buildings in the PRO Portfolio which is jointly owned by PineBridge Benson Elliot and Sharow Capital have been granted BREEAM In-U .. Who won this year's 14th edition of the Eurobuild Awards The jury and guests gathered at the Double Tree by Hilton hotel in Warsaw chose this year's .. Enjoy the last set of recordings with comments straight from this year's MIPIM we asked experts from our home country for their input will take place on 9-10 April 2025 at the Norblin Factory Event Hall in W .. we invite you to hot episode of the "Eye to eye" podcast The UN Nansen Refugee Award award will go to Poland for the first time According to the office of the UNHCR High Commissioner this year's regional wi .. Czech developer CTP has been granted a EUR 200 mln loan from the European Investment Bank for the roll-out of its large-scale solar panel installation .. The hotel market in Bucharest continued its recovery in 2024 while the ADR has finally surpassed the milestone .. Jarosław Szanajca plans to resign from the position of president of the management board of Dom Development at the end of the year and join the superv .. The Polish and Danish governments have entered preliminary discussions for the construction of a tunnel between Szczecin and Copenhagen underneath the .. Viterra has moved into its ​​new 1,500 sqm offices in Olivia Prime part of the Olivia Centre business complex in Gdańsk Panattoni has acquired two properties near Gothenburg The brownfield sites will be replaced by a modern 43,000 sqm facility Contemporary cities are grappling with the challenge of fostering dynamic growth while alleviating environmental pressures Colliers has taken over the management of the Studio B office building located in the Warsaw Wola district The property is owned by Stena Real Estate .. The University of Warsaw has signed a contract with the general contractor for a project at ul The new building will house the faculti .. Torus has announced its All.inn students’ residence concept that is soon to appear on ul Velis Real Estate Tech is officially changing its name to Singu adopting the title of its property management product the construction of the Panattoni Park Unterfranken has officially started Retailer Carrefour Polska has finished expanding its Galeria Słowiańska shopping center in Zgorzelec in western Poland The mall has got an additional almost 3,000 sqm of space which brought its total area to approximately 21,000 sqm Carrefour Polska owns and manages 20 shopping centers totaling more than 230,000 sqm of GLA The company’s strategy envisions investments in the extension and remodeling of the malls Get the best of “Warsaw Business Journal”  delivered to your inbox daily Terms of Service Trademarks Privacy Policy 2018 Warsaw Business Journal