Saxony's Prime Minister Michael Kretschmer (CDU) reiterated his call, expressed in Brussels on Tuesday, for the external border of the European Union (EU) to Belarus to be reinforced with fences, and if necessary walls.

"If we don't want to have border controls within the EU, we have to secure the external borders," said Kretschmer of the FAZ. This is in the interests of both the EU and the people in Belarus, who are closely monitoring the conflict and hoping that the EU will end it win.

Stefan Locke

Correspondent for Saxony and Thuringia based in Dresden.

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“We have to stop Lukashenko,” said Kretschmer.

In response to EU sanctions against Belarusian officials, the Belarusian dictator Alexandr Lukashenko has been allowing refugees from numerous countries of origin to fly to Belarus for months in order to then drive them across the border to Poland, Latvia and Lithuania into the EU.

Kretschmer: The EU must show that it is capable of acting

"The EU must show here that it is capable of acting and that it does not give way to such a dictator," said Kretschmer. He therefore supports the border security measures of the Eastern European EU members. These are fortifications that are common between Spain and Morocco in the south of the European Union. Poland, Latvia and Lithuania are willing to get the situation under control again. “That's why they need our support,” said Kretschmer. "If these countries ask us for support, they have to get it."

In Brussels, however, Kretschmer bit granite with his demand on Tuesday.

In a personal conversation, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (CDU) made it clear that neither the Commission nor the EU Parliament would provide money for fences or other border fortifications.

Instead, they rely on agreements with the countries of origin and sanctions against airlines that support Lukashenko in his activities.

Kretschmer said he took note of that.

However, he thinks that now is not the time to explain what you don't want.

Lukashenko is on the verge of achieving his real goal: a split in the EU due to the sharp rise in the number of refugees.

Last month, more refugees came to Germany via the Belarus route than in five years.

Night after night, the police pick up refugees wandering around the border area between Poland and Germany.

It goes without saying that each of the asylum seekers is treated decently, says Kretschmer.

"I advocate a quick signal"

Saxony is also currently expanding its initial reception capacities and ensuring reasonable accommodation and meals.

"But I am now pleading for a quick and clear signal," said the Prime Minister.

This also includes the fastest possible return of people to their countries of origin.

There should not even continue to make the rounds that the Belarus route is promising.

Therefore, there should not be any relief such as a winter deportation stop.

At the same time, Kretschmer defended himself against "unfounded GDR comparisons" with which critics had reacted to his demand for borders and walls.

“I grew up in the GDR myself and can very well distinguish between the situation then and now.” Incidentally, “we will be the first to dismantle the fences immediately when the dictatorship in Belarus is over”.