Czech PM says EU far from tackling causes of irregular migration

Europe is “unfortunately far from” solving the causes of irregular migration, Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala (ODS, ECR) said in Vienna on Monday as he met with Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer, a minister who keeps reiterating the need to curb irregular migration to the European Union.

Both Czechia and Austria call for better protection of the EU’s external borders, faster deportation of migrants and cooperation with third countries – aspects that should be covered in the EU’s new migration and asylum policy reform, though the new legislation still awaits final approval.

“Our countries agree that the EU urgently needs to reform its migration policy. The current situation is unsustainable, and we need to find a common European solution very quickly,” said Fiala.

“We must discourage illegal migrants from going to Europe and fight against smugglers and traffickers in human misery,” he added.

Faced with an increase in irregular border crossings, Central European countries have decided in recent weeks to introduce temporary border controls, which are expected to run until 2024.

“We are not happy about temporary checks at Schengen’s internal borders. They help to combat migration, but it would be more effective to tackle the causes, and we can only do that at the European level. Unfortunately, we are far from that,” Fiala said.

While Czechia agrees with the EU’s new migration and asylum pact, Visegrad partners Poland and Hungary have also actively opposed the new rules.

The new Slovak government is also against the new rules as they set a “mandatory solidarity” mechanism, ensuring that all the EU countries will take their part in case of massive migration influx – by relocating immigrants or financial assistance.

(Aneta Zachová | Euractiv.cz)