EC: Poland to resettle nearly 13,000 migrants
15:03
The European Commission wants Poland to resettle 11,946 asylum-seekers from Italy, Greece and Hungary and an additional 962 from European, non-EU countries, making it 12,908 in total, according to an official document released by the EC.
Head of the EC Jean-Claude Juncker said during his "State of the Union" address that European history is marked with refugees fleeing from political and religious persecution. “Have we forgotten that 20 million people of Polish ancestry live outside Poland, as a result of political and economic emigration after the many border shifts, forced expulsions and resettlements during Poland’s often painful history?" Juncker asked.
He acknowledged that “Europe cannot house all the misery of the world, but let us be honest and put things into perspective,” arguing that refugees currently represent just 0.11 percent of the total EU population.
He also said that “Europe has made the mistake in the past of distinguishing between Jews, Christians and Muslims.”
Polish daily Rzeczpospolita said that, in justified cases, a country may opt out of taking refugees for a year, but will have to pay 0.002 percent of its GDP, which amounts to PLN 35 million in the case of Poland.
