2017-05-17 01:12 update: 2018-09-30, 15:12
Polish PM Beata Szydlo fot. Jakub Kamiński
There is no possibility for Poland to take in refugees, this is the government's stance, Polish PM Beata Szydlo said on Tuesday in response to the European Commission's threat of launching its breach of EU law procedure against Poland.
Earlier on Tuesday the EC announced it may launch the EU infringement procedure against Poland, Hungary and Austria over their refusal to take in refugees. The Commission has given the three countries a June deadline for launching refugee relocation.
"At the moment there is no possibility for Poland to take in refugees, and we will certainly not agree to the imposition of mandatory refugee quotas on Poland or the other member states. We are saying this very clearly: there is no agreement by the Polish government to forcefully imposed refugee quotas", the PM told a Tuesday press conference in Warsaw.
I do not fear the EC's pompous declarations. In the refugee issue I await the Commission to start a down-to-earth debate and listen to our arguments, PM Beata Szydlo said Tuesday, commenting the EC's threats of breach of EU law proceedings against Poland.
Szydlo told a press conference after Tuesday's government sitting that her stand on refugee relocation remained unchanged and opined that the EC's threats confirmed Poland's claims that the EU needed reforming. She added that the EC did not listen to the EU members but forced its will on them.
"My position in the refugee issue is unchanged. All the Commission's decisions have shown is that we were not only right about the migration crisis (...), but also when we said that the EU should seriously consider reforms. I do not fear the EC's pompous declarations, much rather I await the Commission to start a down-to-earth debate and to begin listening to our arguments", Szydlo declared.
The European Commission urged the three countries to take immediate action on the refugee issue.
"Although most Member States are now active and pledging (to take in more refugees - PAP) and relocating regularly, Hungary, Poland and Austria remain the only Member States that have not relocated a single person. This is in breach of their legal obligations, the commitments taken towards Greece and Italy and the fair sharing of responsibility", the EC said in a news release.
Praising Austria for its pledge to relocate 50 persons from Italy, the EC urged Poland and Hungary "to start pledging and relocating immediately".
"If no action is taken (by June - PAP), the Commission will then specify in its next report in June its position on making use of its powers under the Treaties and in particular on the opening of infringement procedures", the EC warned.
In September 2015 EU countries agreed to take in a total of 160,000 refugees over two years from Italy and Greece, two countries which bore the brunt of migration movements to Europe. The Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Romania raised objections against the decision. The Polish Law and Justice government, which came into power in late 2015, has been a fierce opponent of mandatory refugee relocation.
According to Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs' data Poland already issued staggering 1.26 million visas to Ukrainians last year, half of which went with Poland's stay and work permit.
The number of Ukrainians employed in Poland's grey zone is unknown. Ukrainians account for around 95 percent of all foreigners working in Poland. (PAP)
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