Deputy Minister: Poland could 'reconstruct' refugee deal
PR dla Zagranicy
Roberto Galea
14.12.2015 09:03
Poland is considering alternatives to the pledges made by the previous government to take on some 7,000 refugees as a part of an EU relocation plan.
Migrants from Morocco and Algeria hold placards that read 'we wont eat anything until the borders open' as they stage a protest in the premises of a former Olympic Stadium, in Athens, Greece, 13 December 2015. Photo: EPA/ORESTIS PANAGIOTOU
The Law and Justice (PiS) government which won the 25 October election has voiced its criticism of the agreement by the former cabinet led by the Civic Platform (PO) party.
Poland is considering reconstruction of the decision on commitments to accept several thousand people as part of the EU's refugee relocation programmes,” deputy Interior Minister Jakub Skiba told the PAP news agency.
Skiba explained that the Ministry is not withdrawing from the commitments completely, adding that doing so would expose Poland to proceedings before the European Court of Justice.
“We are considering another option. It is always possible to reconstruct this decision and reavalute this issue,” he said.
The programme to relocate around 120,000 refugees was taken in September following a summit of EU interior ministers.
Skiba, who oversees the state's migration policy, told PAP that Poland is opposed to the continued mechanism of distribution of refugees between European Union countries.
He added that Poland will take part in the mechanism of supporting refugees outside of the EU borders. The European Union has recently said that it will aid Turkey in its plight to house millions of asylum seekers from Syria and other parts of the Middle East. (rg)