Poland plans to temporarily suspend the right to asylum to address increasing migration, amid accusations against Belarus and Russia of weaponizing refugee flows to destabilize the EU.
Poland's Temporary Asylum Suspension Sparks Debate
Poland's Temporary Asylum Suspension Sparks Debate
Polish PM Cites Security Concerns in Migration Strategy Shift
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has announced a significant shift in the country's migration policy by proposing a temporary suspension of asylum rights. This move aims to curb irregular migration, which Poland attributes to the alleged orchestration by Belarus and Russia to destabilize the European Union. Tusk, speaking at a Civic Coalition meeting in Warsaw, emphasized the country's need to regain control over its borders amid increasing illegal crossings primarily from the Middle East, Africa, and Asia.
Since August 2021, Poland has seen a sharp rise in border crossings from Belarus, accusing the neighboring countries of engaging in "hybrid warfare." These actions, as per Warsaw, are strategically designed to disrupt EU stability, although both Belarus and Russia deny these allegations. Tusk plans to push for EU recognition of Poland's right to temporarily halt asylum claims, despite international obligations. This policy shift continues the hardline stance of the previous Law and Justice government, focused on strengthening border security with measures such as barriers and pushbacks.
Although Tusk's coalition government is pro-EU, it has maintained a firm migration policy, reminiscent of the earlier administration's efforts, including expanded border controls and legal adjustments permitting security forces to use firearms in certain situations. While public opinion largely supports these measures, with 86% backing security force actions, human rights organizations express concerns regarding potential humanitarian impacts. Critics, like Malgorzata Szuleka from the Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights, stress the need for balanced discourse and express dissatisfaction with the current approach, highlighting the ongoing humanitarian crisis at the borders.
Since August 2021, Poland has seen a sharp rise in border crossings from Belarus, accusing the neighboring countries of engaging in "hybrid warfare." These actions, as per Warsaw, are strategically designed to disrupt EU stability, although both Belarus and Russia deny these allegations. Tusk plans to push for EU recognition of Poland's right to temporarily halt asylum claims, despite international obligations. This policy shift continues the hardline stance of the previous Law and Justice government, focused on strengthening border security with measures such as barriers and pushbacks.
Although Tusk's coalition government is pro-EU, it has maintained a firm migration policy, reminiscent of the earlier administration's efforts, including expanded border controls and legal adjustments permitting security forces to use firearms in certain situations. While public opinion largely supports these measures, with 86% backing security force actions, human rights organizations express concerns regarding potential humanitarian impacts. Critics, like Malgorzata Szuleka from the Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights, stress the need for balanced discourse and express dissatisfaction with the current approach, highlighting the ongoing humanitarian crisis at the borders.
