Poland has urged the European Union to adopt measures permitting temporary suspensions of asylum applications during episodes of what it terms “instrumentalized” mass migration, a practice Warsaw has maintained at its border with Belarus for the past 18 months. The policy, initially introduced in March 2025 as an emergency response to a surge of migrants crossing from Belarus into Poland, aims to counter what Polish officials describe as a deliberate effort by Belarus and its ally Russia to destabilize the EU by directing migrants toward its eastern borders.

The Belarus-Poland border, which extends roughly 250 miles, has been a focal point of tensions after EU authorities accused Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko of facilitating migration flows to the bloc. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced on September 16 that the EU executive would soon propose a “European emergency response framework” to address cases of “engineered and weaponized” mass migration. The framework would introduce “flexibility” in the application of standard migration procedures under certain conditions for limited periods, though specifics remain unclear.

Poland’s deputy interior minister responsible for migration, Maciej Duszczyk, welcomed the move as an endorsement of Warsaw’s approach. He cited recent events, including the sudden influx of over 70,000 migrants into the Spanish exclave of Ceuta from Morocco in July, as highlighting the need for an EU-wide mechanism to manage similar border crises. Duszczyk emphasized that the proposed framework acknowledges the need for a legal instrument allowing temporary suspension of normal asylum procedures during extraordinary situations.

However, the initiative has drawn criticism from European lawmakers and human rights advocates who caution that formalizing such suspensions could undermine fundamental protections enshrined in European and international asylum law. Tineke Strik, a member of the European Parliament from the Netherlands, expressed concern that adopting Poland’s “model” across the EU risks normalizing restrictions on the right to seek asylum. Critics highlight the principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits returning individuals to countries where they may face persecution, as a core safeguard that could be compromised if asylum procedures are curtailed.

Michael O’Flaherty, human rights commissioner for the Council of Europe, said that discussions of suspending the right to asylum at the EU level are “worrisome” and risk violating international legal standards. Human rights organizations argue that formalizing suspensions would represent a significant rollback in protections for vulnerable migrants, particularly in light of Poland’s continued refusal to register asylum claims from those arriving at its Belarusian border.

Duszczyk defended the Polish position, asserting that the country’s current practices remain compliant with international law and that vulnerable individuals—including pregnant women, children, and those facing persecution—retain the right to seek asylum. He maintained that all migrants encountered at the border are able to explain their circumstances to border guards. However, nongovernmental groups working on the ground report that many vulnerable migrants, such as sick individuals or minors, face significant barriers in having their claims properly heard.

The debate comes shortly after the EU’s new Pact on Migration and Asylum, which took effect three months ago and already permits member states experiencing border crises to extend deadlines for processing asylum applications and to detain migrants longer than usual. Duszczyk suggested that von der Leyen’s announcement reflects recognition within the European Commission that the new pact does not go far enough and that a “state of emergency” instrument is needed.

Further details about the proposed emergency response framework are expected to be discussed at an upcoming EU interior ministers’ summit and during a European Council meeting planned later this month. The outcome could signal a significant shift in how the EU manages asylum procedures amid growing concerns over migration pressures at its external borders.