Mateusz Morawiecki made the announcement at a news conference in Warsaw on Thursday, Polish state news agency PAP reported.
The prime minister was speaking ahead of a two-day summit of the European Council, which was due to begin in Brussels, Belgium, later on Thursday.
'Europe is under attack and its borders are not secure'
Morawiecki said: “Europe is under attack and its borders are not secure. The Russian invasion of Ukraine showed what hybrid warfare is. Belarus is also part of the Russian plan to attack Europe. They use various strategies, including hybrid methods and organised groups of illegal immigrants.”
'Poland must be the voice of reason for Europe’
The prime minister told reporters that “Poland’s position on migration policy is clear.”
He stated: “Opening borders and exposing Europeans to danger is a strategic mistake that threatens the survival of the European Union. Poland must be the voice of reason for Europe.”
Morawiecki vowed: “That is why I will propose a concrete plan for secure borders at the European Council meeting.”
The prime minister’s office said that the Polish plan involved “saying no to forced relocation of migrants; no to violations of veto rights; no the breaches of the principle of states having freedom to make independent decisions; no to Brussels-imposed penalties.”
Meanwhile, Poland will also emphasise the importance of ensuring “security, the sovereignty of member states and a better protection for borders in Europe,” according to officials.
'Europe of secure borders'
Morawiecki stated at Thursday’s news conference: “Europe is not only a continent between the Atlantic and the Urals. Europe is a way of life. Everyone can become a European, regardless of their origin or skin colour, provided, however, that they respect European values and civilisation and reject violence.”
The prime minister declared: “Poland will veto the forced relocation mechanism. A Europe of secure borders is also a Europe without forced relocation” of migrants.
He added: “We propose a referendum on this matter in Poland. Let’s give people a voice and encourage other European countries to do the same.”
In conclusion, Morawiecki said: “The green light for uncontrolled migration has nothing to do with protecting human rights. On the contrary, it serves to violate human rights, increases suffering, contributes to the growth of crime in Europe and indirectly supports smuggling groups.”
EU countries agree new migration deal
On June 8, EU interior ministers reached an agreement on a plan to overhaul the bloc’s asylum and migration procedures, the PAP news agency reported.
Poland and Hungary voted against the new asylum and migration package, according to news outlets.
The plan will form “the basis for negotiations” between the Swedish presidency of the Council of the EU and the European Parliament, officials said at the time.
Under the proposed migration package, EU countries would be bound by “mandatory solidarity” in migration policy, while having flexibility “as regards the choice of the individual contributions,” from admitting relocated migrants to making financial contributions, the PAP news agency reported.
The EU would commit to at least 30,000 relocations per year “from member states where most persons enter the EU to member states less exposed to such arrivals,” officials said.
Meanwhile, financial contributions from member states would be fixed at EUR 20,000 per relocation at a minimum, according to the Polish state news agency.
“These figures can be increased where necessary and situations where no need for solidarity is foreseen in a given year will also be taken into account,” the European Commission said.
The plan effectively means that each EU country would have “a choice between admitting relocated migrants or making a financial contribution for every migrant it refuses to admit,” the PAP news agency reported, citing a high-ranking EU diplomat who it said took part in the negotiations.
On June 15, Polish lawmakers adopted a declaration against the EU’s proposed new migration package.
(pm/gs)
Source: PAP, rp.pl, consilium.europa.eu