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Poland to rethink stance on refugee intake

PR dla Zagranicy
Jo Harper 01.09.2015 08:01
Poland is reconsidering the number of refugees it can take in and will announce a new number soon, Prime Minister Ewa Kopacz said.
PAP/Radek Pietruszka

So far 2,200 people have been accepted, Kopacz added, referring to the growing influx of migrants to Europe.

The PM’s comments come in the context of EU-wide discussion on the numbers each member state should take in, with Poland and other CEE countries being criticised by Austria and Germany recently for "lack of solidarity".

"We are not talking today about 2,200, but - due to the fact that despite everything the number of refugees to Europe is growing – we will have to reconsider. So we will again have to divide up among the different European countries the appropriate amounts. This undoubtedly is part of a spirit of responsibility but also weighing up our capabilities," Kopacz said.

"The allocation should not only involve the allocation of quotas to individual countries, but a careful analysis of why this is happening and ultimately provide help for these countries," Kopacz added. "Operating in the spirit of solidarity is accepted by Poland when it comes to accepting those most in need."

Kopacz went to say that Poland is mainly a destination for East Europeans. She added that in Poland today there are tens of thousands of Ukrainians. "They don’t, admittedly, have the status of refugees, but only because we have a no visa law that allows them permanent residence and at the same time to take jobs," Kopacz said. (jh/rk)

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