Poland accepts 2,000 refugees in Brussels talks
PR dla Zagranicy
Nick Hodge
21.07.2015 09:13
Poland confirmed on Monday that it will resettle 2,000 refugees from Syria and Eritrea as part of a wider EU initiative to alleviate overcrowded camps in Italy, Greece and elsewhere beyond the EU.
A migrant mother tries to protect her child from the strong sun as they wait on the Greek side of the border to enter Macedonia near the city of Gevgelija, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, 20 July 2015. Photo: EPA/GEORGI LICOVSKI
Deputy Minister of the Interior Piotr Stachańczyk said in Brussels that Poland will take 1,100 from Greece and Italy, followed by 900 from camps outside the EU.
Overall, Poland's number is less than the 3,621 originally proposed by Brussels.
As concerns refugees already in Italy and Greece, 32,000 are accounted for, with the EU falling short of reaching its 40,000 target.
“We are almost there,” said EU Home Affairs Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos, noting that he was however “disappointed” that the target was not met on Monday.
Hungary has flatly rejected taking on refugees as part of the programme, whereas Austria has declined to house refugees from Italy and Greece, while accepting 1,900 from camps outside the EU.
Over 1,900 migrants have perished this year, trying to cross the Mediterranean to Europe.
Poland's deputy minister of foreign affairs Rafał Trzaskowski argued on Monday evening that Warsaw also has to be prepared for further waves of refugees from Ukraine, hence the reduced number from Syria and Eritrea.
“We said clearly [in Brussels] that we are responsible for the entire eastern border,” he told the TVN24 news channel.
“If something happens in the east, we'll have to take responsibility for these people.” (nh)
Source: PAP