Mateusz Krępa, GAPs Partner at CMR Warsaw, Discusses Migration, German Border Controls, and the Rise of Anti-Migrant Sentiments on Outriders Podcast
An information sign showing the route to the open reception centre in Dębak near Warsaw, the first reception centre in Poland; Source: Mateusz Krępa
In September 2024, Mateusz Krępa, a member of the GAPs team from the Centre of Migration Research at the University of Warsaw, appeared on episode 127 of the Outriders podcast titled Why Germans Are Becoming Radical on Migration. The episode explored the current migration dynamics in Europe, Germany's controversial decision to reintroduce internal Schengen border controls, and whether such measures might become a recurring trend across the continent.
The discussion began with an analysis of Germany's restoration of internal border controls, examining its practical implications, underlying reasons, and connections to similar actions taken by other European countries. Krępa then shared insights from the GAPs project, which investigates return practices and the migration trajectories of individuals traveling to or through Poland. He highlighted how secondary movements and the effectiveness of Dublin returns have influenced EU member states' decisions to temporarily reinstate border controls.
In his concluding remarks, Krępa emphasized the normalization of such measures, noting that what were initially temporary controls have started to become routine practices. He also linked this trend to the rise of anti-migrant, right-wing political forces across various countries, which has contributed to a shift in migration policies.
The podcast was recorded in Polish and can be accessed in full here.
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