Politicians, especially those from Germany, should be straightforward about their proposals. Chancellor Scholz instructed his deputies to accept the package for Germany without delay, according to Anna Zalewska, a member of the European Parliament from Poland and a former minister of national education, in an interview with the wPolityce.pl portal.
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wPolityce.pl reports that today the European Council summit will address the migration pact proposed by Chancellor Scholz. Polish Prime Minister Morawiecki has publicly opposed the move, and the question arises whether the Council will decide by qualified majority or by consensus, as Poland would prefer.
Anna Zalewska notes that this is a particularly delicate Council, given recent events that have raised tensions, including destabilizing moves that resemble a coup in Russia and the presence of Wagner forces near Belarus. The mood at the Polish-Belarusian border is charged, and the Council session could determine how the European Union will operate in the coming months.
The key issue is the migration pact. Its name sounds positive, yet the proposal is seen by some as a framework for legalizing illegal immigration and potentially expanding human trafficking. While there are reports of many migrants and refugees in Europe, the reality is more nuanced and often misrepresented. The document currently being drafted is based on the outcome of discussions within the Council of the European Union, not the European Council, which makes the Council’s role pivotal. The Prime Minister stated he expects a decision to be made with broad consensus, and hopes this outcome will be achieved. The regulation is described in articles as focusing on migration rather than illegal immigration alone.
What outcome might the Council reach? Will it align with Scholz’s plans or reveal new obstacles?
Politicians, especially from Germany, should be clear about their intentions. Scholz has urged his delegates to embrace the package promptly for Germany. The German position has shifted from welcoming migrants with celebration to facing a genuine constraint on resources and space. States are signaling concerns to their governments about budgeting and capacity, and discussions about restoring tighter controls on the Polish-German and Czech-German borders have intensified after noticing a new route for illegal migration. This creates ample incentive for Germany to push the Council toward a majority decision when possible.
There is also a matter involving Italy where Giorgia Meloni seems reluctant to accept illegal immigration as a blanket policy and appears to prefer managing the situation differently. It should be noted that three options exist, and all require some form of compulsory relocation. The numbers bandied about have shifted, with estimates ranging from tens of thousands to potentially over a hundred thousand illegal entrants in some member states. The broader issue is that penalties for not accepting migrants loom large, and there is little talk of shared accountability beyond individual states.
Those not closely following European politics might assume a smooth approval process is possible. In reality, the move serves as a pretext for compulsory relocation. The European Union has had opportunities to show generosity toward war refugees from Ukraine but has not consistently taken them. This situation has drawn sharp criticism from many who see it as a betrayal of humanitarian commitments.
Beata Szydło commented on social media about perceived contempt from EU officials toward Poland, hinting at a disconnect between EU institutions and national concerns. The dialogue raises questions about the consistency of EU policy toward Poland and whether the union adheres to a predictable rulebook or allows political calculations to drive policy decisions.
The broader trend appears to be a contest over Europe’s future structure and the federalization of the union. There is concern that Brussels seeks to shape policy in a way that would limit national sovereignty, a stance viewed by some in Poland as an obstacle to national autonomy. This has become a focal point in parliamentary and public debates, with observers noting that Poland might resist any path toward full federation that sacrifices national prerogatives.
Minister Wąsik proposed extending a referendum on migration to cover climate policy and coal as themes. How this proposal is received will influence public debate and the agenda at the Council of Ministers. As public sentiment grows more vocal on illegal immigration and climate policy, a referendum could become a platform to address concerns directly, while also serving as a tool to counter disinformation that can accompany these sensitive issues.
In recent weeks European politics has stirred strong emotions among Polish citizens, who want clear answers about illegal migration and the cost implications of climate commitments. A referendum could provide an opportunity to air these concerns openly in the Council and allow for direct dialogue with the public, while challenging misleading narratives about illegal immigration.
— End of interview notes from the Poland desk
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Notes from the Polish desk