Visegrad group rejects EU proposal for further redistribution of migrants

The Visegrad Group (V4) countries after their Prague summit on Friday resolutely rejected the European Commission's forthcoming proposal for the redistribution of further 120,000 refugees across the European Union (EU).

The Prague summit of the Visegrad Group on migration crisis ended shortly after 4:30 p.m. local time on Friday.

In the joint statement of the four prime ministers of V4 countries said they are ready to provide experts and equipment for the protection of the Schengen Area external borders, to intensify the fight against people smugglers and support the fight against Islamic State.

The four leaders said that they want their countries to actively participate in dealing with the migration crisis in this way.

Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka said that he convened the summit in Prague so that they can consult the current immigration crisis that the entire EU are now facing. The aim of the summit is to coordinate the positions of the V4 countries, so that they could act jointly and consistently in the European Union.

Sobotka said he considered it is unacceptable to link the drawing of EU subsidies to the countries' readiness to accept refugees. He said the Czech Republic would not deal with any proposals related to quotas unless the protection of the Schengen Area external borders is decided on, unless detention facilities for refugees (hotspots) are set up and unless Europe makes diplomatic effort at halting the crises in the countries where refugees originated in.

Sobotka said that the prime ministers of the V4 countries did not talk about any numbers at the summit as discussing refugee quotas does not go to the point. He said the key to the migration crisis is the situation in the countries like Syria and Libya.

Polish Prime Minister Ewa Kopacz said refugee quotas would attract further refugees to the EU. She said that if the discussion on the migration crisis is limited to refugee redistribution, EU countries will meet once a month to negotiate about numbers, although the core of the problem is elsewhere. Kopacz said Europe must show solidarity on the issue. She said Poland does not disclaim this responsibility but that the member countries should provide help at their own discretion, and they should make sovereign decisions on their participation.

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said it seems of crucial importance to him that the Schengen internal borders remain open. The closing of these borders would be an enormous defeat of European politics. Fico rejected the criticism placed upon the V4 for its attitude towards the refugees, saying such criticism may only cause a rift in the EU.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban refused the help offered by the three other V4 countries in dealing with the migration crisis. According to Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka, Orban said that Hungary applied its own measures to the immigrants and proceeded strictly according to the rules for the protection of the Schengen Area.

Orban said he considers crucial whether countries are able to show their citizens that they are in control of the situation and whether the European leaders are able to guarantee the common security.

In the joint statement, the four countries agreed to increase financial and material aid to the most vulnerable refugee groups and the countries with large refugee populations. They also agreed European politics should more focus on the Balkan migration route, apart from the Mediterranean region.

The EC will propose the redistribution of refugees from Italy, Greece and Hungary next week. Endit