Dichotomy at the Curzon Line: The Differential Treatment of Migrants at Poland’s Borders with Belarus and Ukraine
Dichotomy at the Curzon Line: The Differential Treatment of Migrants at Poland’s Borders with Belarus and Ukraine

Summary/Abstract: Since 2021, Poland has emerged as a focal point in European asylum policy. Initially, Poland sealed its border with Belarus to stop unauthorized migration and sought EU support against the Lukashenko regime’s “hybrid attack”. Conversely, Poland opened its doors to millions seeking refuge from the conflict in Ukraine. These contrasting stances are mirrored in EU actions, including a proposed “Instrumentalisation Regulation” to manage the refugee flow from Belarus on the one hand, and the activation of the “Temporary Protection Directive” for Ukrainian refugees on the other hand. This paper aims to dissect the roots and impacts of Poland’s divergent policies through a combined political and legal examination at both national and EU levels. It demonstrates the key dynamics at play between the EU, Poland, and its neighbouring states that led to the differential treatment of forced migrants at the borders. The analysis shows that the logic behind both situations is uniform and relies on an insider-outsider framing that is present in both cases. The difference in result stems from the line being drawn, similar to the Curzon line, at political alliances or opposition with Ukraine and Belarus, respectively, and the absence of humanitarian considerations regarding the migrants at the Belarusian border.

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