V4 states express opposition to EU pact on migration quotas

Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic have declared that they will not follow the European Union's migrant redistribution plan. According to Euronews, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Hungarian leader Viktor Orbán rejected not only accepting migrants but also financial compensation.

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer) is in favour of "zero migration" and the Czech Republic has announced that it will refuse migrants for security reasons.

Exceptions can be negotiated, but only for countries under real migration pressure. Poland and the Czech Republic currently fall into this category. Union officials confirmed to the website that they expect both states to apply for exemptions. Hungary and Slovakia may challenge the act legally.

Moreover, the Commission initially missed the deadline for the solidarity fund proposal, which has further complicated the situation. The thorny issue is likely to be discussed at the December summit of Union leaders.

The bloc's members are to help ease the burden on states "under migratory pressure". They can do so in three ways: by relocating a certain number of asylum seekers to their own territory, by paying €20,000 per person they do not agree to relocate, or by funding operational support in member states that are 'under pressure'.

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