Poland’s foreign minister strongly criticized the European Union’s proposal to relocate migrants within member states, expressing discontent over the lack of adherence to established EU procedures.
The EU Justice and Home Affairs Council recently endorsed a new migration and asylum pact, which requires EU nations to accept an initial quota of 30,000 migrants from regions burdened by Middle Eastern and African migration, such as Greece and Italy. Failure to comply with the quota would result in a payment of approximately EUR 22,000 per non-admitted migrant. Although Poland and Hungary opposed these regulations, they were outvoted.
Responding to the obligatory quotas, the lower house of the Polish parliament, known as the Sejm, passed a resolution in protest on June 15. The Polish government has consistently voiced its firm opposition to the EU’s quota plans and intends to hold a referendum on the matter. Pawel Jablonski, Poland’s deputy foreign minister, suggested that the Sejm might vote on the motion for a referendum in July.
While visiting London, Poland’s foreign minister, Zbigniew Rau, was asked whether Poland would seek exemption from the EU’s migrant relocation mechanism. Rau firmly stated that any decision made without adhering to the treaty’s prescribed procedures was entirely unacceptable. He further criticized the relocation mechanism as undemocratic and potentially flawed, emphasizing the need for direct democracy in Poland through a referendum.
Poland’s foreign minister vehemently opposes the EU’s migrant quota plan, citing concerns about procedural irregularities and undemocratic practices. The Polish government intends to pursue a referendum to address the issue and advocate for direct democracy.