The issues of support to Ukraine in the fight against the Russian invasion, as well as the increasing influx of illegal immigrants to Europe, are the topics of the meeting of the presidents of the countries of the Arraiolos Group, which takes place today in Porto. The President of the Republic of Poland, Andrzej Duda, takes part in the meeting.
The Arraiolos Group unites the presidents of several European countries. It was founded in 2003 at the initiative of the then President of Portugal, Jorge Sampaio. The name comes from the Portuguese city where the first meeting of presidents took place, including: Finland, Germany, Latvia, Poland, Portugal, Hungary and Italy. In later years other leaders joined them.
The anniversary meeting of the leaders of the Arraiolos Group countries started yesterday in Porto, hosted by the President of Portugal, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa. Today the presidents deliberate in two plenary sessions.
At the conference before his departure to Portugal, President Duda said that the main topic of the meeting would be the migration pact. He then emphasized that Poland has consistently said ‘no’ to the forced relocation of migrants.
Hard opposition
Poland is firmly opposed to the policy of migrant relocation, which does not solve the migration problem but only deepens it
– said today in Porto the head of the Presidential Office for International Policy, Marcin Przydacz.
A meeting of the presidents of the countries of the Arraiolos Group will take place in Porto. Leaders debate security in Europe in light of the migration crisis and Russian aggression against Ukraine.
Speaking to journalists, Przydacz announced that Poland is strongly opposed to the mechanism of forced relocation of migrants.
Any solutions that allow migrants arriving via the Mediterranean to enter deeper into the European continent will in no way solve the migration problem, but only worsen it. This is mainly motivated by the naive, ideological attitude of a number of Western European countries
– said the head of BPM.
We will strongly oppose the relocation policy. The answer to this should be readmission, i.e. sending migrants back to the countries from which they arrived illegally in the EU and stopping mafias that operate by transferring migrants from Africa or the Middle East to Europe for a fee .
– added.
Przydacz also said that Poland does not agree to revise the European Union treaties and give up the principle of unanimity in favor of majority voting. He stressed that the European Union’s largest countries should not be allowed to dominate smaller economies.
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Mon/PAP/X
Source: wPolityce
Emma Matthew is a political analyst for “Social Bites”. With a keen understanding of the inner workings of government and a passion for politics, she provides insightful and informative coverage of the latest political developments.