Polish PM welcomes EU bid to strengthen external Schengen borders
PR dla Zagranicy
Nick Hodge
18.12.2015 17:32
Prime Minister of Poland Beata Szydło has welcomed plans laid at the two-day EU summit in Brussels regarding the strengthening of the Schengen zone's external borders.
Prime Minister of Poland Beata Szydło at a press conference following the two-day EU summit in Brussels. Photo: PAP/Radek Pietruszka
“It was recognized that the migration problem should be solved primarily outside the EU,” Szydło said after attending the summit, noting that this was in line with the conservative Law and Justice (PiS) government's position.
“A lot of importance was likewise placed on the protection of the external borders of the EU and cooperation with third-party [non EU] countries,” she added.
“Any changes that lead to effective border controls are vital and we will support them,” she said.
“This is a condition for the survival of the Schengen zone.”
Representatives of the member states did not broach the thorny subject of quotas of refugees for member states.
The Law and Justice government, which won the 25 October general election, has indicated that it will backtrack on the pledges of its predecessor, the centrist government led by the Civic Platform party, which had promised to take in at least 7,000 refugees.
Meanwhile, the UK has made no breakthrough regarding its attempts to renegotiate its EU membership, with British Prime Minister David Cameron aiming to cap welfare benefits for migrants from other member states. (nh/pk)