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International Internet Magazine. Baltic States news & analytics Thursday, 28.03.2024, 16:43

Baltic States skeptical about EU asylum quotas

BC, Vilnius, 28.05.2015.Print version
President Dalia Grybauskaite declared yesterday that Lithuania disapproves of the Recommendation on a European Resettlement Scheme proposed by the European Commission (EC) and instead supports a voluntary approach assuming such responsibility, reports LETA/ELTA.

According to the president, Lithuania expresses its solidarity with all other EU member states, who provide assistance, in turn pointing out that her country has already granted asylum to over 400 foreigners, primarily from Ukraine, Georgia and Russia.

 

Lithuania's Prime Minister, Algirdas Butkevicius, also spoke out against the resettlement plan, saying that at this time Lithuania is definitely unprepared to take responsibility for such a large number of refugees (710).

 

Estonian Prime Minister Taavi Rõivas, also said that his country does not agree with the EU on this issue, and that the quota set for Estonia is "out of proportion", i.e. it is too large (1,064).

 

Latvia's number is 737.

 

Estonian Interior Minister Hanno Pevkur said, commenting upon the proposal of the European Commission on relocation of refugees between member states, that Estonia cannot agree with this approach and the quota proposed by the Commission is disproportionate; according to European Commission's proposals, Estonia should receive 1,064 refugees, Public Broadcasting reports.

 

The European Commission unveiled proposals for redistributing the refugees among member states. 40,000 refugees will be redistributed and Estonia's contribution is in Commission's view 738 refugees. Today's proposed relocation is a continuation of the plan announced by Brussels two weeks ago for resettlement from third countries of around 20,000 refugees, in which Estonia would participate by receiving 326 refugees.

 

"In calculating the refugee relocation quota, the European Commission says that the key for Estonia is 1.85. Given that Estonia accounts for around 0.26% of the European Union's population and 0.14% of GDP, the Commission's proposal is about 10 times higher, and in our opinion, disproportionate, "said Pevkur.

 

Pevkur said that if the Commission is prepared to consider Estonia's possibilities, Estonia is definitely ready to move forward in a constructive manner to find solutions to the migration crisis. "Considering the extent of the Mediterranean crisis and the impact on the entire European Union, the question is not whether to help, but how and to what extent. Estonia is ready to seek for a balanced compromise with the European Commission for voluntary reception of refugees," said Pevkur.

 

"In searching for solution, the current capabilities and possibilities of states to receive refugees have to be taken into account. It seems reasonable that to continue this process, Member States and the European Commission will agree upon specific bilateral activities, and discuss the ability and schedule of different states for the reception of refugees, "said Pevkur.

 

The Estonian government is expected to formulate its position in the issue at its June 11 session, followed by a June 12 joint meeting of Riigikogu committees. On 16 June, the Justice and Home Affairs Council takes place in Brussels, where Member States' positions as regards reception of refugees are discussed. On 25th – 26th June, the European Council will take place on the same topic, to be attended by Prime Minister of Estonia Taavi Rõivas.

 

The Interior Minister of Lithuania Saulius Skvernelis has called the European Commission's (EC) recommendation for Lithuania to accept 700 refugees unrealistic.

 

"This is unrealistic. Our position is, and has been expressed many times by heads of state, that this should be done voluntarily and based on our capabilities. But these numbers are unrealistic for Lithuania," the minister told journalists.

 

The minister reiterated that Lithuania could accept 40-50 refugees. This number would fully exhaust the interior system's capabilities. The minister added that besides this Lithuania would still have to care for and accommodate illegal immigrants that enter its territory. Skvernelis explained that performance of functions would be hampered.

 

The EC has proposed that 710 illegal migrants would be relocated to Lithuania in two years – 302 from Italy, 201 from Greece and 207 from other countries. Lithuania would be compensated EUR 6,000 per refugee.






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