“No migration, no gender, no war!” – Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban shouted a few days ago, wanting Brussels to understand his words. The German daily “Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung” (“FAZ”) writes on Tuesday (April 23, 2024) about the “alliance” formed by Poland, Hungary and Slovakia against the migration pact. The new regulations adopted by the European Parliament will be discussed at the Council of the European Union on Monday, April 29.
Warsaw’s resistance was surprising
The alliance can be called “Visegrad minus one” because the Czech Republic is not part of the Visegrad Group. The fact that Hungary would be among the opponents of the migration pact was predictable, but “Warsaw’s resistance was less predictable,” writes “FAZ.” The daily explains that the previous Polish government – the PiS government – represented the same position as Hungary – but now the “liberal Christian democrat” Tusk also assured that he would “defend Poland against the relocation mechanism”.
Similarly, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico describes measures that include accepting refugees or alternatively providing aid to countries most affected by illegal migration at the external borders as a “dictate”. And he announced that his coalition would most likely not adopt appropriate national regulations, the daily explains.
“Visegrad minus one”
From the Visegrad Group, only the Czech Republic is missing from the anti-migration alliance, although the government of Petro Fiala is under strong pressure, and the opposition is threatening that if the government supports the pact, it will be “the greatest betrayal” in the recent history of the Czech Republic – we read.
“FAZ” reminds that Hungary and Poland already voted against the asylum reform in June 2023, but at that time there was still a national-conservative PiS government in Warsaw. “Diplomats in Brussels hoped that Tusk would change course.”
However, the consent of Poland, Hungary and Slovakia is not necessary to obtain a qualified majority in the final vote in the EU Council, notes the German daily.
There are high penalties
After adopting the migration pact, EU countries have two years to implement the reform. For example, Hungary needs to create 8.5 thousand places for migrants who came to the EU illegally. There will be no obligation to accept migrants from other countries at the EU’s external border, even in the event of a crisis overload of their asylum systems. However, another form of solidarity will be possible – 20,000. euro for one immigrant that a given country would accept, or another form of material or financial assistance – explains “FAZ”.
Member States that do not implement the reform must be prepared to face infringement proceedings. The Court of Justice of the European Union may then impose high fines. The European Commission may deduct these funds from EU payments for a given country – writes “FAZ”.
Source: Gazeta
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