Germany's Scholz defends border policy in call with Polish PM Tusk

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Friday spoke with his Polish counterpart Donald Tusk, after criticism from Warsaw over Germany's plan to introduce further checks on its borders.

The two leaders agreed in a call that the challenges posed by illegal migration and smuggling could only be overcome in unison, and that close cooperation between European partners is essential, government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit said in Berlin.

Hebestreit said Scholz gave Tusk explanations over his government's new "migration policy measures," which are due to be implemented from Monday at Germany's borders with Denmark, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg.

Border checks are already in place at Germany's other borders, including with Poland, despite the Schengen area rules on free movement.

The Polish prime minister on Tuesday described Germany's plans as "unacceptable."

Another topic under discussion was the "cynical instrumentalization of migrants by Belarus," Hebestreit, with the leaders agreeing to strengthen the protection of European external borders.

Poland and the Baltic states have accused Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko of allowing migrants to attempt to cross into the European Union via his country in order to destabilize the bloc.