Donald Tusk’s government white paper envisages greater selectivity in the migration process.
A major rethink of border control and the granting of rights to asylum and employment in Poland emerged from a white paper published on October 15 by the Polish government, drawing both plaudits and criticism. Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced the changes several weeks before the document’s publication, outlining a strategy to manage migration over the next decade, including a proposed temporary halt to accepting asylum seekers in Poland, one of the EU’s frontline border states.
Tusk justified the policy shift by highlighting the weaponization of asylum issues by Belarus and Russia since 2021, when illegal border crossings surged.
“Putin and Lukashenko are sending us people here from—literally—Middle Eastern prisons. They have no right to enter the EU; we have the right to decide who enters and who does not,” said Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski in a speech in Olsztyn, Northern Poland, in late October.
“People are treated as ‘live weapons’ used to destabilize the situation in Poland. This was not taken into account when the Geneva Conventions were created based on the experiences of World War II,” added Małgorzata Bonikowska, head of the Centre for International Relations, in a statement to the Polish government-run news agency PAP.
While the primary goal of the white paper is stricter border control and enhanced security checks for asylum seekers, it also emphasizes tighter regulations for work and study visas. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has expressed support for border countries implementing more robust policies, even including temporary halts to asylum processing.
The white paper describes Poland as being at a crossroads. Historically a country of emigration, Poland has now become a destination for those seeking stability and opportunities in a flourishing EU economy. “Poland is a gateway to the EU,” said Kumar, an Indian student at Vistula University, in an interview with Poland Weekly. “It has good universities that are fairly affordable, a reasonable cost of living, and friendly people.”
After Russia invaded eastern Ukraine in 2014 an estimated 1 million people fled to Poland.
Migration Trends and Challenges
The white paper estimates that Poland now has an immigrant community of 2–2.5 million people. Ukrainians form the majority, followed by Belarusians and citizens from other former Soviet states like Georgia and Kazakhstan, many of whom hold a “Polish Card,” granting them settlement rights. Additionally, a growing number of workers from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Africa, and Latin America are finding opportunities in Poland.
Despite the growing diversity, sectors like transport, logistics, and manufacturing still face labor shortages. However, tighter scrutiny of migration processes has emerged following a 2023 visa scandal. Allegations of up to 180,000 visas being fast-tracked for unqualified applicants led to the resignation of a Deputy Foreign Minister in the previous government.
Toward a selective migration model
The Polish government is now advocating for a “selective model” of migration, granting preferential treatment to individuals with unique skills aligned with strategic national goals. This includes tightening the Polish Card system to ensure genuine links to Poland.
Many companies worry that excessive bureaucracy could disrupt foreign recruitment, a critical component of maintaining operations. “Without workers from abroad, many companies would have come to a standstill,” said Helena, an HR professional at a poultry factory in Eastern Poland. She added that foreign workers, often from Colombia, Bangladesh, and Ukraine, fill roles that local workers are reluctant to take on for extended periods.
On the other hand, employment sector experts like Krysztof Inglot, chairman of Personnel Service, believe that better regulation could reduce harmful practices and benefit the economy. “In some regions, like Koszalin in Northern Poland, there’s a critical shortage of workers for meat and fish processing. A selective migration approach, similar to Australia’s, could address these needs effectively,” said Inglot.
Political and social implications
The success of Tusk’s migration strategy hinges on fostering public support for immigrants. As noted by Rzeczpospolita daily, Poles themselves need to adopt a more immigrant-friendly stance, a challenging task given the current polarized political climate. Anti-immigration rhetoric remains strong on both sides of the parliamentary aisle, and Amnesty International has criticized the proposed temporary asylum ban.
The upcoming presidential elections in May 2025 are likely to amplify these debates. As Rzeczpospolita warns, Tusk’s strong language on border control risks inflaming tensions, potentially turning the issue into a political liability.
For now, the government faces the dual challenge of balancing security concerns with the need to attract and retain a skilled, diverse workforce to sustain Poland’s economic growth and stability.
