EU 'chaos' as Poland refuses to back down on migrant policy clashing with Brussels rule
An increasing number of EU member countries have conflicting ideas over how to tackle growing immigration numbers, with Poland standing its ground.
Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk is insisting he will not backtrack on his asylum plans. The Polish Government is aiming to suspend the right of arrivals to claim asylum, despite it clashing with European rules and international law.
As many as 2,500 immigrants reportedly crossed the border last month, taking the figure to over 26,000 so far this year. Tens of thousands of would-be immigrants, many from the Middle East and Africa, have attempted to enter Poland via Belarus in recent years.
Taking to social media on Monday, Tusk said: “It is our right and our duty to protect the Polish and European border. Its security will not be negotiated. With anyone.”
The prime minister is the former president of the European Council and a prominent leader in the centre-right European People’s Party. Despite being a staunch Europhile, he has embraced a sterner tone on the rising mass migration sweeping Europe, despite his move possibly putting him on a collision course with Brussels.
Mr Tusk’s border policies are likely part of his efforts to ensure his Civic Coalition party is set to win in the presidential election next year - Polish voters are increasingly concerned about receiving migrants.
Poland has already begun investing in stronger border infrastructure to try and deter the number of crossings. A special border zone has been established to give tougher powers to local authorities.
The significant increase in crossings from Belarus over the past three years is linked to the reported encouragement from Alexander Lukashenko, Belarus’ president, for people to fly to Minsk and then be directed by authorities toward the Polish border.
Poland’s Government has labelled this tactic as “weaponising” migration to harm the EU and assist his Russian ally.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen denounced the strategy as a “cruel form of hybrid threat.”
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Poland announced on Saturday it will move to suspend the rights of new arrivals to claim asylum, despite Brussels warning of its incompatibility with EU rules.
Speaking to Politico, the European Union said member countries must deal with “hybrid attacks” from Belarus and Russia “without compromising on our values.”
However, Mr Tusk stands firm that he’s only following the lead of other countries.
Writing online, he said: “The temporary suspension of asylum applications was introduced in Finland in May. It is a response to the hybrid war declared against the entire European Union (primarily Poland) by the regimes in Moscow and Minsk, which involves organising mass transfers of people across our borders.”
In November, Finland temporarily closed its border with Russia and refused to process new applications after groups of people tried to enter.
