The Council of the European Union (RUE) adopted today agreements on the pool of migrants that EU Member States are to admit under the migration pact. Poland has been placed in the group of states that may apply for an “offsetting of their contributions to the solidarity pool”. The government proclaimed success, but the opposition is cooling emotions. – The Union will be able, at the humble request of the Polish government, to graciously agree – or not. The decision has been taken out of the hands of the Polish government and transferred to the Union, even though this matter does not even fall within the EU’s treaty competences – said Deputy Speaker of the Sejm, Krzysztof Bosak.
The Council of the European Union (RUE) has reached agreements today concerning the annual “solidarity pool” under the migration pact. This pool is the number of migrants to be accepted by EU Member States in 2026 and the following years. “The first annual migration management cycle will begin on 12 June 2026. The reference number for the solidarity pool for 2026 amounts to 21,000 relocations or other solidarity actions or 420 million EUR in financial contributions”, the Council communiqué states.
There are three types of so-called solidarity measures – relocation, financial contribution, or “alternative” actions. “Based on the assessment of the quantitative and qualitative criteria set out in the Pact, the European Commission found that Cyprus, Greece, Italy, and Spain are under migratory pressure. These countries may benefit from solidarity measures within the solidarity pool”, the Council of the European Union (RUE) reports. Poland – along with Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, and Estonia – has been recognised as a country facing a situation resulting from “accumulated migratory pressure in previous years”.
“They have the possibility to request full or partial offsetting of their contributions to the solidarity pool”, the Council stated.
The government claimed success
“Poland will not participate in any relocation mechanism. We have said that we will not accept any refugees under this mechanism. We will also not pay any compensation in this regard. Therefore, this political agreement that has been reached is very good for Poland,” said the Minister of Internal Affairs and Administration, Marcin Kierwiński, expressing hope that “this mechanism will remain in force for many years”.
Donald Tusk commented on this information on X. “As I announced, Poland has been exempted from the obligation to accept migrants under the EU relocation mechanism; we act, we don’t talk,” he wrote.
Bosak: A failure for Tusk’s government
The opposition dampens the satisfaction.
“Poland is listed among the states that have the possibility to request (‘possibility to request’) exemption from part or all of the obligations. And the Union will be able, at the humble request of the Polish government, to graciously agree – or not. The decision has been taken out of the hands of the Polish government and handed over to the Union, even though this matter does not even fall within the EU’s treaty competences! A complete failure for the government of Donald ‘no one will outplay me in the EU’ Tusk”, assessed Deputy Speaker of the Sejm, Krzysztof Bosak, on social media.