Poland may be freed from EU migration pact obligations by mid-October

The European Union is reportedly planning to exempt Poland from its obligations under the EU migration pact to accept migrants from other member states.

The move is expected to be finalised by October 15, according to Polish media.

Officials explained that the exemption would serve as a form of acknowledgement for Poland’s reception of approximately one million Ukrainian refugees since 2022.

Previously, Polish President Karol Nawrocki notified European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen of Poland’s intention to refrain from fulfilling the provisions of the EU migration law regarding the reception of migrants from other member states. Prime Minister Donald Tusk had made similar declarations earlier.

President Nawrocki acknowledged that illegal migration presents a challenge for Europe but emphasised that its resolution cannot involve “sending migrants to Central and Eastern European countries.”

In addition, Poland has recently enacted legislation terminating social payments to Ukrainian citizens who are not employed in the country.

The EU Council had officially approved the community’s migration pact in May 2024. The agreement includes provisions for quotas on migrant settlement in member states and stipulates that countries refusing to accept migrants must contribute to a special EU fund.

By Tamilla Hasanova