Poland, Hungary, allies stand firm against EU migrant quotas

Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic have signaled their readiness to challenge the European Union over a new plan to redistribute asylum seekers under a quota system, with hardline leaders rejecting both relocations and financial contributions.

On November 11, the European Commission unveiled the plan to ease the burden on hotspot countries such as Italy, Spain, and Greece. Under the Pact on Migration and Asylum, all EU states are expected to contribute proportionally to population and GDP, either by accepting asylum seekers, paying €20,000 per person they refuse to relocate, or financing operational support in “under pressure” member states. Combinations of the three approaches are permitted, Euronews reports.

However, Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic have firmly rejected participation. “Poland will not be accepting migrants under the Migration Pact. Nor will we pay for it,” Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk wrote on X shortly after the Commission’s announcement, amid domestic political pressure to take a hardline stance.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán also emphasized his government’s refusal: “We will not implement the Migration Pact … We will not take in migrants, and we will not pay a single forint for them.” Hungary’s April elections are expected to focus on migration, with Orbán seeking to underscore his “zero migrant” policy.

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has echoed this stance, rejecting both relocation and financial contributions, while incoming Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš cited “national security reasons” for rejecting the quota system. ANO MEP Jaroslav Bžoch told Euronews: “Our party disagrees with the migration pact, which poses a direct threat to our security. We reject it.”

The Commission noted that Poland and the Czech Republic could request exemptions, classified as countries “facing a significant migratory situation.” Exemptions require approval by a qualified majority of EU ministers—15 of 27 states representing at least 65% of the EU population—and, if granted, would not shift responsibilities to other countries, potentially reducing assistance for southern states.

A diplomat acknowledged the complexity of enforcing the pact: “The implementation of the migration pact will be very difficult, most of the member states would prefer to avoid relocations because of the backlash they could face at home… This will be very difficult to implement on the ground.”

With the year-end European Council meeting on December 18-19 approaching, the debate over exemptions, solidarity contributions, and enforcement is expected to dominate discussions among EU leaders.

By Vafa Guliyeva