Politico: Poland defies EU migration laws, temporarily blocks asylum at Belarus border

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has lit a stick of dynamite under the EU’s migration policy by announcing over the weekend that Warsaw would temporarily suspend the right to claim asylum for migrants crossing the border from Belarus.

“I will demand recognition in Europe for this decision,” Tusk told a rally of his Civic Platform party on October 12, Caliber.Az reports per Politico.

Poland, like other European Union (EU) member states, is bound by European and international humanitarian law, particularly the principle of non-refoulement, which stipulates that no individual should be forced to return to a country where they could face "torture, cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment."

However, Donald Tusk’s recent announcement suggests potential exemptions on security grounds, raising concerns of a possible ripple effect across the EU. As a former president of the European Council, Tusk is fully aware that his statement is likely to cause a stir at this week’s meeting of EU leaders in Brussels. According to an EU diplomat, Tusk is expected to discuss his proposal during the EUCO summit.

The Polish leader intends to question how Europe can effectively prevent Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko from exploiting migrants as part of hybrid warfare tactics.

Tusk's team has rallied to defend this controversial stance. Europe Minister Adam Szłapka argued that, in cases where a state faces significant threats to its security, asylum rights could lawfully be suspended. “Our security is under pressure. We need to consider special measures,” Szłapka was quoted as saying by the Polish Press Agency.

Poland’s Foreign Minister, Radosław Sikorski, echoed this sentiment, stating that Poland would refuse to implement any EU decisions if they were deemed to jeopardise national security.

Tusk’s move should be viewed within the context of Polish domestic politics, particularly with a presidential election on the horizon in May. His Civic Platform party has consistently positioned itself against the ruling Law and Justice party in recent elections.

Tusk’s latest stance suggests he is keen not to be outflanked by the political right on the issue of migration.

By Aghakazim Guliyev