Does the planned EU migration deal assume mandatory relocation mechanism? TVN24 correspondent explains

Poland may hold a referendum on a European Union migration deal on the same day as elections set for the autumn, Deputy Foreign Minister Paweł Jabłoński told Radio Wnet on Monday, underscoring the ruling nationalist party's opposition to the EU deal in its campaign.

"These types of joint votes have already taken place in the past and I think it would be a natural thing, also because of the costs," he said.

Polish authorities are against the proposed EU agreement. On Tuesday, Jabłoński said on Twitter it was "dangerous to our security and also incompatible with the EU law and previous decisions of the European Council".

Poland's lower house of parliament adopted a resolution expressing objecting against the EU migrant relocation mechanism.

Under the deal, which aims to settle divisions that date back to the 2015 migrant crisis, each member of the 27-member EU would be responsible for admitting a set number of migrants but could make payments of around 20,000 euros per person to other states if they do not wish to host them.

However, Jarosław Kaczyński, leader of the ruling Law and Justice party (PiS), said last week Poland would hold a referendum on the deal as it had already taken in 1.5-2 million Ukrainian refugees and it would be unfair to expect Warsaw to pay for declining to take in other migrants.

Eastern EU countries such as Poland and Hungary have in the past refused to admit migrants from the mainly Muslim Middle East and North Africa. PiS has been accused by human rights groups of stirring up xenophobia, which it denies.

Donald Tusk, leader of the main liberal opposition party Civic Platform, told a rally in the city of Poznań last week that the referendum proposal was a sign of fear on the part of PiS amid public dissatisfaction over topics such as inflation or the country's strict abortion laws.

In spite of what the current Polish government claims about the project, the deal would not impose mandantory relocation of migrants. TVN24 correspondent in Brussels Maciej Sokołowski explained the provisions included in the proposed regulations.

The reporter added the deal in question is a draft regulation that at this point has been agreed upon by the ministers of the EU countries. The project will next be negotiated and voted on in the European Parliament. Next, it will return to the Council to be finally approved. Therefore, all provisions are subject to change at all stages of the process.

"There is no mandatory relocation in these documents," Sokołowski said. "We are talking about the solidarity option, wanted not by the EU Commission, but mainly by Italy. This is important because Polish authorities keep on raising this issue, that it is an EU Commission-imposed obligation," he added, reminding that the Italian government was now an ally of PiS in the EU.

The TVN24 correspondent explained the draft agreement assumed three options of contribution. First one is to simply accept migrants - the aforementioned relocations. Another form of support are financial contributions - 20,000 euros per one person. The idea is to support countries such as Italy and Greece in processing asylum requests.

The third option is operational support. "For instance, sending services to EU's external borders, sending equipment, or supporting boat patrol services operating on the Mediterranean Sea," Sokołowski said.

"So there are three options, relocation is just one of these possibilities, and a country can choose on its won which option to pick," TVN24 reporter said.

Sokołowski explained the draft migration deal includes Article 44fa which allows for "full or partial reduction of the solidarity contribution by a Member State that is facing a significant migratory situation or that considers itself facing a significant migratory situation".

"No one directly mentions Poland and Ukraine, but this is why these provisions have been prepared," he said, referring to Poland's efforts to accept war refugees from Ukraine seeking shelter. The reporter added that Poland would be allowed to sent such a request to the European Commission. " The Commission issues opinions, the Council approves, and then you don't have choose any of the three options."

It means Poland will be able to file for full reduction of solidarity contribution - including relocation of migrants, financial contribution of 20,000 euros per rejected migrant, and operational support. According to diplomats and experts, the idea is to consider the situation of countries in specific geopolitical situations and that have already accepted more than a million refugees.