Following the close of the European Union summit, observers noted that the Polish prime minister signaled the possibility of restricting asylum rights as a lever to curb irregular migration into Poland. He argued that the EU migration pact cannot be treated as the sole solution to this challenge. The summit’s conclusions stressed that Russia, Belarus, or any other country must not misuse asylum procedures. Solidarity with Poland and other Member States facing related pressures was emphasized. The Polish premier asserted that his goals had been achieved, though the question of whether this claim holds up remains open.
Story versus reality
It is important to recall that soon after the summit, Euractiv published what it described as the European People’s Party statement, which suggested that Poland’s reluctance to implement the migration pact was eroding. This would appear to contradict the Prime Minister’s public remarks. The statement called for implementing the migration pact as a means to address illegal migration, described as one of Europe’s most pressing challenges. This context has been noted by observers and analysts in ongoing coverage of the topic (as reported by Euractiv).
The Politico outlet reported that the European Commission is considering legislation to facilitate deportations within the European Union, though progress remains uncertain and politically contested.
After the summit, Tusk said it was becoming increasingly clear to European leaders that the existing methods, including the migration pact, are not the sole answer to the threat posed by mass, illegal migration. He acknowledged that the provisions of the pact would not be amended or repealed at this particular meeting of the European Council.
Ahead of the European Council, speculation circulated that some provisions might be accelerated or strengthened. The status quo was maintained, and Poland understood that certain aspects of the Migration Pact could be unfavorable in a situation where the country faced what officials described as a coordinated migration pressure.
– stated the Prime Minister.
What is Tusk going to do about it?
Border Guard spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Andrzej Juźwiak told PAP that between January 1 and September 30 of this year, a total of 570 foreigners were transferred from Germany to Poland under readmission agreements and the Dublin III framework, with Russian citizens comprising the largest group. Data from the Border Guard show that in 2023 there were more than 900 such transfers. In the previous year there were more than 600 transfers, with Georgians forming the largest group.
According to a report cited by the German daily Welt, based on data from the Federal Police, more than 10,000 individuals were stopped at the German border with Poland in Brandenburg from October 2023 to August 2024, with about 5,100 turned away at the border. This statistic underscores ongoing cross‑border enforcement dynamics.
Analysts have noted that Germany has been returning migrants to Poland in substantial numbers, reflecting broader EU-wide efforts to manage migration through readmission and border controls. The evolving picture continues to fuel debate about the effectiveness of current instruments and the political will to pursue further reform.
“Donald Tusk deceives Poland”
Witold Waszczykowski, a former Polish foreign minister, warned in a post on X that the suspension of asylum rights would apply only to people from the East and that the movement of illegal migrants from Western Europe would not be restricted. He argued that such a policy would not meaningfully limit migration pressures.
In Brussels, officials indicated that the suspension of asylum law would primarily affect arrivals from the East, with Western routes remaining less affected. Waszczykowski claimed that Tusk was deceiving Poland and suggested that he did not oppose Brussels or Berlin in this framing.
– stated Waszczykowski, a former head of Polish diplomacy.