European Council addresses migration unanimously
18.10.2024
During the October European Council Summit in Brussels, Prime Minister Donald Tusk presented the Polish perspective on migration. Facing the growing challenges along the eastern border of the EU, the leaders expressed solidarity with Poland. The European Council unanimously adopted conclusions on migration, which read that no country, including Russia and Belarus, can abuse values such as the right to asylum. Poland is cleared to make independent decisions on that matter.
European solidarity with Poland
EU leaders of all political parties expressed their solidarity with Poland, which faces serious migration challenges. The actions of Russia and Belarus are based on using migration as a tool to destabilise the situation on our eastern border.
The key outcome are the words of the statement - that Russia, Belarus or any other country must not abuse our values, including the right to asylum, or undermine our democracy,
said the Prime Minister at a press conference in Brussels.
Politicians from all countries expressed their understanding of Poland's situation related to aggressive irregular migration along its eastern border and the need to implement effective methods to respond to these challenges.
Understanding migration challenges
European leaders have recognised that the existing migration pact is not an adequate response to the growing threat of mass irregular migration - especially when it is fomented by foreign governments. The Migration Summit highlighted that conventional methods are not working.
European leaders are becoming aware that the methods used thus far, including the Migration Pact, are not the right answer to the threat posed by irregular migration on a mass scale,
the Prime Minister stated.
The need for better solutions in response to the changing circumstances was also brought up during the debate, as the “statistics and figures are staggering.”
The participants pointed out that Europe does not have the capacity to accommodate all the people willing to request an asylum. This should prompt the development of a new migration policy in the European Union.
As I said just a couple of days ago in Warsaw, we need to - at the very least - change the course when it comes to migration policy in Europe. We need to change our attitudes, which were previously based on the principle expressed in the Geneva Convention,
said the Polish Prime Minister.
A consensus on migration policy reform was clear at the Brussels summit.
Poland's autonomous decisions
The European Council also emphasised Poland's right to make autonomous decisions on migration issues.
For me, it is important that everyone has recognised that Poland would make its own decisions and that they would be accepted,
stated the Prime Minister.
In the context of the ongoing migration crisis, other Member States highlighted opportunities for cooperation. The European institutions and other countries are open to providing various forms of assistance.
