The Swedish Presidency upheld the European Commission’s proposal regarding the reform of the asylum and migration system in the European Union. It is about relocating up to 120,000 migrants a year, or the “equivalent” of €22,000 per person. According to unofficial information, the Swedes want to push the idea through before the end of their term.
Meetings of EU ambassadors are held in Brussels behind closed doors. Wednesday’s topic was reform of the asylum and migration system in the EU. The starting point is the proposal that the EC presented to the ambassadors last week. In the Council, the Swedish Presidency of the EU steers the proposal.
“On Wednesday, the Swedish Presidency upheld the EC’s proposal regarding the reform of the asylum and migration system in the EU. It assumes i.a. relocation to 120,000 migrants per year or the equivalent of €22,000 per migrant if countries do not wish to relocate
an EU source said.
The pressure of Sweden, the vagueness of Germany
This means that negotiations on this matter will continue. According to unofficial information, The Swedes want to conclude the talks before June. Then the Spaniards will take over the presidency from them.
“The Swedes want to pass the proposal before the end of their presidency. Therefore, they skip the work at the expert level. They are determined to “push through” the proposal at the level of ambassadors, despite the fact that many countries make a number of different kinds of comments that need to be discussed,” the source indicated.
The Germans, who have not presented a clear position, are hesitant about the proposal. Adoption of the regulation would require a qualified majority, but it is not known whether the countries that support the proposal will be able to obtain it.
According to unofficial information, the Permanent Representative of Poland to the EU, Andrzej Sadoś, reiterated at the meeting that Poland was against the proposal. The Polish diplomat informed that its structure de facto does not provide alternative solidarity measures, and consequently leads to the obligation of Member States to pay €22,000 for not relocating one migrant, which is a de facto penalty. He also reminded that Poland accepted the largest number of Ukrainian war refugees.
Eight years ago topic
According to information, the proposal was presented last Wednesday by the EU Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson, to the ambassadors of the member states. This is a resumption of the discussion that began in 2015 with the migration crisis in the EU. At that time, some countries did not want to agree to it. As a result, the EC launched procedures for violating EU law against these countries, including Polish.
“Solidarity must be ensured. That is why the Commission proposed a system of compulsory solidarity. Member States will be able to decide on solidarity measures. These may include relocation, financial and operational support. It is important that Member States in need of support receive it.”
spokeswoman Anita Hipper said last Friday.
Poland’s position is clear
Poland and some EU countries are against the relocation proposal. “There is no and there will be no consent to the forced relocation of migrants to Poland,” said Mariusz Kamiński, Minister of Internal Affairs and Administration, on Thursday.
The Minister of EU Affairs, Szymon Szynkowski vel Sęk, also referred to the matter. “Poland successfully managed the biggest refugee crisis after World War II, related to the Russian aggression against Ukraine. We host about 2 million refugees, over 10 million in total temporarily moved through our country,” he pointed out.
“We know how to manage the refugee crisis and we also know that the mandatory relocation system has already proven to be an absolutely ineffective and harmful tool. It’s time to focus on the essential challenges and effective tools, not pseudo prescriptions. There will certainly be no Polish consent to the mandatory relocation mechanism.
– said Minister Szynkowski vel Sęk.
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