PM Kopacz reveals how many refugees Poland will accept
PR dla Zagranicy
Roberto Galea
20.09.2015 12:25
Polish Prime Minister Ewa Kopacz has said that Poland will likely take in 10,000-12,000 refugees, in line with EU plans.
Migrants wait at a registration camp near the city of Gevgelija, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, 20 September 2015. Photo: EPA/NAKE BATEV
“We are negotiating, we do not know what numbers will be on the table. And let's not talk about ‘amounts’, they are living people, let's talk about the possibly of those whom we would have to – in the context of resettlement and relocation – adopt here in Poland,” the head of Polish government said on Saturday.
“We will negotiate until Tuesday, and the decisions will be taken on Tuesday,” PM Kopacz added.
"Today we are talking about a symbolic amount; a symbolic number [of refugees - ed.]," Kopacz noted.
"We are prepared for much more than we are offering, but we also want to decide about their issues, namely the cases related to Poland – here in Warsaw," the Prime Minister underlined.
The latest numbers quoted by PM Kopacz are in line with EU directives, despite earlier comments by Kopacz that Poland says “no” to automatic migrant quotas imposed by the European Commission.
The immigration crisis in Europe has intensified as thousands of refugees have poured into the European Union from the Middle East and Africa.
EU interior ministers are set to meet on Tuesday to discuss the Union’s response to the crisis.
Poland earlier said it is prepared to accept 2,000 people as part of the EU plans to resettle refugees.
Polish Prime Minister Ewa Kopacz has made it clear that the country is ready to take on as many refugees as it can afford. (rg/rk)