Germany's Wadephul downplays tensions with Poland over border checks

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul on Friday downplayed tensions with Poland as he sought to ease European frustration over German migration and border policies.

"In my talks in Warsaw, I did not detect any major irritation but rather a great deal of agreement," said Wadephul.

The new foreign minister made his comments on the sidelines of a meeting with his EU ministerial colleagues in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv.

"We all have a migration problem in Europe. We must solve it together," Wadephul added.

He expressed his support for Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk's demand that Europe's external borders be secured.

Wadephul said he had agreed with his Polish counterpart, Radosław Sikorski, to travel together to the Polish-Belarusian border to assess the situation there.

Poland and Europe, he said, are being subjected to hybrid attacks and destabilization, with migrants being sent across the border from the Belarusian side.

"We must find joint answers to this. That is the focus of our policy," Wadephul said.

The European Commission had previously called on the new German government to closely coordinate border controls with its neighbours.

Following an order by new Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt to tighten rules at Germany's borders, increased checks are now in place.

In addition to Poland, Switzerland and Austria have also previously criticized Berlin's approach.