The European Commission yesterday stepped up pressure on Poland and Hungary to accept asylum seekers under its immigration plan, threatening to take legal action otherwise.
Warsaw and Budapest are delaying the implementation of the plan to relocate 160.000 people from Italy and Greece to other EU countries. Delays are also observed in other Member States, leaving the plan stalled.
Eurosceptic governments in Poland and Hungary have also placed the media and the judiciary under tight state control, raising concerns in Brussels and other EU capitals that they are violating the Union's democratic standards and balances.
The influx of around 1,6 million refugees and migrants into the EU in 2014-2016 has led to quarrels over how the burden will be shared between Member States. Only about 16.340 people have been resettled so far under the emergency plan, which expires in September.
"If the Member States do not increase the number of resettlements soon, the Commission will not hesitate to exercise its powers… for those who have not complied," the commission said in a statement.
The Commission had proposed imposing fines on Member States for refusing to accept migrants, but political support for such a move was not great. An action in court would not resolve the issue quickly, but it could add to the growing pressure for action by other Member States.
Italy is at the forefront of calls for cuts in EU subsidies to Poland and Hungary. Germany, Sweden, Austria and France have also stepped up pressure on the cuts.
Bulgaria, Croatia, Slovakia and the Czech Republic have received very few asylum seekers and the European Commission has highlighted their own weak response to the plan.
The Commission Communication recalls the resettlement plan decided by EU leaders in September 2015, although Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Romania voted against. Although generally opposed, Poland eventually sided with the majority.
In a rare piece of good news, Brussels noted that Austria has now decided to participate in resettlement programs. Vienna had previously been excluded as it had received around 90.000 asylum seekers in 2015 as it is located on one of the most important migration routes to Europe.
The Austrian Interior Minister said that the country will make preparations for the reception of immigrants and refugees. The first group is expected to be about 50 unaccompanied children from Italy.
About 14.000 people are currently awaiting resettlement from Greece, the commission said. He urged Italy to speed up the necessary legal and security procedures as about 3.500 people are currently waiting to be resettled.
Source: Newsbeast