Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said on Thursday that his country plans to reject a migration deal at the upcoming European Union summit in Brussels. Instead, it will call for reforming the bloc's border agency Frontex and increasing funding for addressing migrant issues.
The deal proposal outlines that each EU country would bear responsibility for a specified number of migrants but wouldn't necessarily be required to accept them. The alternative for countries unwilling to receive migrants and refugees is to aid host nations through financial contributions of about 20,000 euros per person.
The Polish government plans to hold a referendum on the deal, likely on the same day as the elections this fall. Speaking to reporters, Morawiecki urged reforming Frontex to improve its effectiveness in combatting people smugglers. He emphasized that countries tasked with securing the EU's external borders should receive increased funding and that the social benefits provided to those entering the bloc should be limited.