Visegrad divided on migration policy despite past alliances

The times when the Visegrad Group united on EU migration policy are now long gone as only Poland and Hungary continue to voice their opposition to the Council’s recently proposed relocation scheme while Czechia and Slovakia back it.

While the Visegrad Group was once united in fighting against migrant relocations, Poland and Hungary are now the only two EU states to oppose the new solidarity mechanism agreed to in the Council earlier this month that would fine states refusing relocations from others by up to €20,000. The other Visegrad states – Czechia and Slovakia – have officially backed it.

But solutions need to be sought at the EU level, according to Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala (ODS, ECR) and his Slovak counterpart Ľudovít Ódor who met in Prague to discuss the thorny migration file on Tuesday.

After the meeting, Fiala even criticised Hungary and Poland for blocking migration conclusions at the European Council summit in Brussels last week.

“I think this is not in the interest of the Czech Republic, it is not responsible, it threatens the financial support that the Czech Republic has pushed for and negotiated for countries that protect refugees from Ukraine,” Fiala said.

Fiala also commented on the EU funds countries receive for hosting Ukrainian refugees – around €100 from the EU’s Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund for each person they accept, though estimates vary depending on the calculation method.

According to him, these countries, including Czechia and Poland, should be eligible for more funds- something Fiala pushed to be echoed in the European Council summit conclusions even if these ended up being blocked.

Regarding the Visegrad format, Fiala said cooperation still exists among the four states in several areas but acknowledged that it is impossible to focus on this format alone.

The four Visegrad presidents will be meeting in autumn, while the prime ministers will meet after the elections in Slovakia and Poland, said Fiala, confirming continued cooperation.

(Aneta Zachová | EURACTIV.cz)