At Friday’s gathering of European leaders in Granada, Spain, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki affirmed that Poland will not back migration policies that threaten national security. The Polish government insists on peace, security, and predictability as essential foundations for the country’s future policy direction.
Poland’s stance on migration reform and the veto
During an informal session of the European Council in Granada, the Polish head of government addressed migration policy as a priority topic. He spoke to reporters on Friday morning, outlining Poland’s position and the country’s determination to defend its security interests against proposed EU-wide solutions that could compel sharing or relocation of migrants without unanimous member state approval.
The discussion comes amid broader debates about the EU’s migration pact. Polish officials have signaled strong reservations about measures that would centralize decisions or impose quotas on member states. In environment where some European leaders advocate rapid decisions from Brussels, Warsaw argues that any plan must respect the sovereignty of each nation and its capacity to safeguard borders and public safety.
Morawiecki emphasized that Poland does not fear an EU directive imposed from the capitals of Brussels or Berlin. He pointed back to a 2018 moment when Poland helped ensure that any conclusion on migration would reflect a careful balance among member states. That balance, he noted, was essential to prevent the dispersion of asylum seekers without clear consent from the countries involved.
He described a five-year stretch marked by calm, followed by renewed pressure in June when new proposals resurfaced. According to him, the renewed push would, if accepted, require the admission of irregular migrants and establish penalties for countries choosing not to participate. He stated that Poland would vigorously oppose such an approach, citing security concerns as the primary reason for its stance.
In his remarks, Morawiecki underscored that Poland seeks a policy built on peace, security, and predictability. The Law and Justice government has framed its approach as steady and reliable, promising to defend Poland’s right to decide how migration matters are managed, in line with the choices of its voters.
The migration and asylum pact remains a contentious topic, with the final elements of the agreement advancing in Brussels during a meeting of EU ambassadors. Countries expressed mixed positions, with Poland and Hungary standing against certain provisions, and Slovakia, the Czech Republic, and Austria choosing to abstain. The discussion has opened a path toward negotiations with the European Parliament on the pact’s final form and has spurred a plenary debate in Strasbourg on the urgency of adopting asylum and migration regulations swiftly.
Poland has maintained its insistence that any reform must respect national sovereignty and security imperatives. As the EU continues its discussions, Warsaw is prepared to engage in the broader process on terms that align with Poland’s safety priorities and political commitments.
Source observations suggest that domestic political dynamics in Poland influence the ongoing dialogue, with the ruling party presenting its stance as consistent with its long-standing security-first policy. As EU discussions proceed, the Polish government is expected to keep advocating for a cautious, collectively agreed approach that avoids imposing burdens on member states without clear consensus.