Tusk pointed to the alleged misuse of the right to asylum “by [Belarusian President Alexander] Lukashenko, by [Russian President Vladimir] Putin, by smugglers, human smugglers, human traffickers.” which he said was “completely contrary to the actual essence of the right to asylum.”
Tusk, who is the former president of the European Council — the Brussels-based body that steers the EU’s political direction — added that Warsaw would also “demand recognition in Europe for this decision.”
Referring to the bloc’s new asylum and migration pact, which seeks to establish a bloc-wide asylum policy, he warned: “We are not going to respect or apply any European idea that… hinders our security.”
Poland and the Czech Republic this week demanded tougher restrictions than those laid out in the new EU pact, which is due to take effect in 2026.
Tusk said he would present his migration strategy to the Cabinet on Tuesday, telling delegates that “we will reduce illegal migration in Poland to a minimum.”
Germany’s plans to impose border checks spark backlash
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Migration crisis on Belarusian-Polish border
Poland has faced increasing pressure from undocumented migrants on its border with Belarus since 2021.
Successive Polish governments have accused Belarus and Russia of luring migrants to the shared border and attempting to destabilize the EU. Minsk and Moscow have rejected the accusations.
European officials have described how Belarusian travel agents and some Middle Eastern airlines have advertised tours to Belarus and falsely promoted seamless entry into the EU.
The migrants would then fly into Belarus and be given instructions on how to reach the Belarusian-Polish border to enter the EU.
Some migrants say they were even given wire cutters and axes to cut through border fences.
Between August and December 2021, Warsaw recorded thousands of unauthorized attempts to cross the joint border. Several people have died. Since last spring, the number of attempted crossings has again been rising.
Tusk has pursued a tough policy towards migration since he took office in December 2023, largely following the course set by the previous nationalist government. The strategy has won broad public support but has frustrated rights groups who had hoped his administration would be more welcoming of migrants.
In May, Poland said it was setting aside €2.3 billion ($2.52 billion) to reinforce its border with Belarus.
mm/dj (AFP, AP, dpa, Reuters)
Source link : https://www.dw.com/en/poland-tusk-plans-to-suspend-right-to-asylum/a-70478179
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Publish date : 2024-10-12 15:51:00
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