Leaders of the EU countries did not reach an agreement regarding conclusions on migration. Hungary and Poland were against the deal in the original form and wanted to introduce their own provisions, but the remaining countries refused to add any new elements - TVN24 correspondent in Brussels Maciej Sokołowski reported on Friday (June 30). However, the agreement did not need to be unanimously approved by member states.
Poland and Hungary refused on Friday to sign up to conclusions of a European Union summit over two paragraphs on migration, a move diplomat said aimed to demonstrate their anger over being outvoted earlier this month on new migration rules.
The vetoed section deplores the loss of life of migrants trying to reach Europe, commits to fight trafficking and calls for more work to solve the migration problem. It had to be removed from the summit conclusions, which require unanimity, and re-branded as conclusions of the chairman of the meeting.
The veto exercised by Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has no consequences for EU policy because EU governments decided on June 8th, by majority voting and against the two countries' objections, to adopt the new migration rules.
But it is a signal that, despite being outvoted, neither country will give up the fight and it could spell trouble for other projects that require unanimity, such as the ongoing revision of the EU's budget which could be taken hostage.
Poland argues that the new system forces countries either to accept migrants or to pay. "Poland cannot agree to an obligatory character of relocation," Morawiecki said.
Hungary is also opposed to accepting migrants and has used the issue to rally voters. "We are fighting against this decision and have no intention of implementing it," a top government aide quoted Orban as saying on Twitter.
TVN24 correspondent Maciej Sokołowski explained that the paragraphs relating to migration would be adopted as "Conclusions by the President of the European Council" - with the support of 25 member states, and opposed only by Poland and Hungary.
EU summit conclusions on migration
1. The President noted that the European Council expresses its profound sorrow for the terrible loss of life as a result of the recent tragedy in the Mediterranean. He noted that the European Union remains committed to breaking the business model of traffickers and smuggling networks, including instrumentalisation, and to tackling the root causes of irregular migration so as to better address the flows of migrants and avoid that people embark on such perilous journeys. 2. Migration is a European challenge that requires a European response. The migratory situation at the EU’s external borders and within the EU was reviewed in a comprehensive way, and work undertaken so far in the framework of a European response was noted. The Council Presidency and the Commission informed the European Council about the steady progress in implementing its conclusions of 9 February 2023, with a focus on the external aspects of migration and their financing mechanisms. Following the Commission’s recent letter, and building on the progress so far, work will be stepped up on all strands of action, along all migratory routes, in line with international law. The Council and the Commission will continue to closely monitor and ensure the implementation of the European Council conclusions and report accordingly. The Commission will continue working on the elements contained in its letter, including on mobilising existing EU funding in support of temporary protection. 3. The European Council will keep this work under review. 4. It was noted that Poland and Hungary declared that, in the context of the ongoing work on the Pact on Migration and Asylum, in line with the previous European Council conclusions of December 2016, June 2018 and June 2019, there is a need to find consensus on an effective migration and asylum policy, that, in the context of solidarity measures, relocation and resettlement should be on a voluntary basis and that all forms of solidarity should be considered equally valid and not serve as a potential pull factor for irregular migration.
EU deal on migration
Under the June deal each EU country will be responsible for a set number of migrants but will not necessarily have to take them in. Those unwilling to receive their quota could choose instead to help countries which do take them with 20,000 euros per refused migrant, with equipment or with personnel.
Poland says it will hold a referendum on whether to accept the deal, possibly on the same day as elections scheduled for October or November.
The bloc's largest eastern member is opposed to an EU deal designed to share out the responsibility for looking after migrants and refugees and says the EU has done too little to help it deal with refugees. The EU rejects this criticism.
EU diplomats said Poland's stance was motivated by elections in October, as polls suggest the ruling nationalist PiS party may lose power. In 2015, during the biggest wave of migration to Europe, PiS used migration concerns to win an election.
The Polish government objects the EU migration deal saying it would be forced to either accept additional migrants on top of the 1.5-2.0 million refugees it estimates it has taken in from Ukraine, or pay other countries who take them in.
European Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson told Polish private broadcaster TVN24 on Thursday that countries like Poland which face migration pressures would not be forced to accept additional migrants under the deal and would not have to make payments to other countries.
Źródło: TVN24 News in English, TVN24, PAP, Reuters