Poland's Prime Minister, Donald Tusk, has declared that Warsaw will not endorse the European Union's migrant relocation mechanism, despite its endorsement by the European Parliament.
Speaking at a press briefing in Poland's parliament, Tusk stated, "We will see what the final version of this pact will be. I have certain capabilities, or abilities to build certain alliances, and I am completely certain that the relocation mechanism, or paying for not accepting migrants, will not apply to Poland."
The European Parliament recently ratified the New Pact on Migration and Asylum, aiming to establish a unified framework of rules and policies for managing migration within the EU. A component of this pact is the "voluntary solidarity" mechanism, which garnered approval by a vote of 301 to 272, with 46 abstentions.
Initially proposed by the European Commission in 2016, the migration and asylum management reform faced opposition from several member states due to mandatory relocation aspects. In December, after reaching a preliminary agreement with the Council of the EU, the Commission presented a revised version featuring two mechanisms to support countries dealing with significant migration pressures.
The voluntary solidarity mechanism allows member states to annually choose between relocating at least 30,000 individuals, paying EUR 20,000 for each person not accepted, or participating in border operations. Additionally, an "enhanced solidarity" mechanism was introduced for emergency situations, enabling countries to select their form of assistance.
Despite these developments, the Polish government has strongly opposed the pact, deeming the negotiated terms "wholly insufficient." Tusk reiterated Poland's steadfast resistance to the relocation mechanism, hinting at potential political shifts following the upcoming European elections that could impact the situation.
The migration pact awaits approval from the Council of the EU, where each member state is represented. The outcome of this approval process will significantly influence the pact's implementation and Poland's involvement therein. Photo by European People's Party, Wikimedia commons.