During a gathering of EU member state ambassadors in Brussels, the Swedish presidency confirmed support for the European Commission’s plan to reform the asylum and migration framework. The agreement includes a relocation target of up to 120,000 people per year, or a financial equivalent of €22,000 for each person if a country declines to relocate. This detail emerged from an EU source cited by PAP, indicating the proposal remains under active discussion with the overall aim of shaping a unified approach across the Union.
22 thousand euros per migrant
Ambassadors meet behind closed doors as part of ongoing discussions about the EU’s asylum and migration reform. The proposed framework, initially set out by the European Commission last week, is being guided through the Council under the Swedish presidency. The core starting point remains the EC proposal, which seeks to standardize how member states handle relocation and related measures across the bloc.
On Wednesday the Swedish presidency reiterated support for the EC’s reform plan, which includes the possibility of relocating up to 120,000 migrants annually or providing €22,000 as an alternative for countries that choose not to relocate. This position signals continued negotiation rather than an immediate agreement, reflecting the diverse perspectives across member states about how to balance solidarity with national interests.
Negotiations are expected to proceed with the objective of reaching a consensus before the upcoming presidency transition. According to informal briefings, the Swedish side is aiming to finalize terms before June, at which point Spain would assume the presidency and continue the work on finalizing the package.
The Germans are still hesitant
Germany has not taken a clear stance on the proposal and remains cautious about its implications. A qualified majority is required for the regulation to pass, yet it remains uncertain whether the bloc’s members who support the plan can assemble the necessary votes. The stance from Berlin appears measured as officials weigh how relocation obligations and potential financial mechanisms would operate in practice across member states.
Poland has voiced strong reservations about the initiative. At the meeting, its Permanent Representative to the EU, Andrzej Sadoś, reiterated opposition to the plan, arguing that the design does not offer genuine solidarity measures. He noted the concern that the proposed framework could effectively impose a financial penalty of €22,000 per non-relocated migrant, rather than delivering robust alternative strategies for shared responsibility. Poland also highlighted its longstanding role in welcoming Ukrainian refugees, underscoring the broader humanitarian commitments its government has supported during the regional crisis.
The discussion continues as ministers and their aides assess how to balance the principle of collective responsibility with every member state’s capacity and political considerations. The debate includes questions about whether any proposed mechanism should be complemented by compensatory or solidarity-based options that would meet the Union’s shared values while preserving national flexibility.