In a bold stance against the European Union’s (EU) newest migrant relocation proposal, Jaroslaw Kaczynski, leader of Poland’s conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party, firmly stated that Poland would not accept the plan. The European Commission (EC) recently presented a scheme aimed at addressing the migration issue faced by southern EU members. The proposal requires EU member states to either accept a quota of migrants from countries like Italy or Greece or pay EUR 22,000 per migrant they refuse to take in.
However, during his visit to the Polish-Belarusian border and the newly constructed fence designed to curb the influx of migrants from the Middle East and Africa, Kaczynski expressed the PiS government’s strong opposition to the idea. He emphasized that the government had previously rejected such agreements and would continue to do so. The PiS party considers preventing migration to Poland a top priority in the upcoming general election, scheduled for this autumn.
Kaczynski underlined their determination to defend Poland’s right to determine its own destiny as a host country. He stated, “The Polish people should have the authority to shape the character of their country and decide how to ensure their security.”
Following the announcement of the EC proposal, Poland’s prime minister and interior minister also confirmed their rejection of the plan. The EC’s move has reignited the discussion on migrant relocation that originated in 2015 during the EU’s migrant crisis. At that time, Poland and several other countries declined participation, leading the EC to initiate legal action against them for breaching EU laws.