The EU Commission has announced that Poland, Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic and Estonia could seek partial or full exemption from the EU migrant‑relocation scheme in 2025, pending a majority of Member States.
EU Commission Announces Possible Exemption for Poland, Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic and Estonia
The Commission stated that the countries could apply for partial or full exemption from the EU relocation scheme next year. The nations face an intensifying migration crisis over the past five years, and a majority of Member States must still approve the exemption.
What Is the Issue?
The matter concerns the migration pact agreed last year, which requires a country to accept a commission‑designated pool of migrants or pay €20,000 for each person not accepted under aid to countries pressured by migration.
Tusk Declares Poland Will Not Accept Relocated Migrants
Polish Radio reported early October that Donald Tusk had stated that Poland would not accept relocated migrants, that his government would seal the Belarus border – the best‑guarded in Europe – tighten visa and asylum rules, and that Poland is a model for other states.
Kohut Blames Tusk for Commission Decision
Europarliamentarian Łukasz Kohut told the radio agency that the decision is due to Tusk and other MEPs who have said since the Ukraine war’s start that Poland is a frontline state with over a million refugees and migrants from Ukraine and Belarus.
