The opposition ANO party has made a formal request for an urgent session in the lower house of the Czech Republic to discuss the recently agreed reform of EU migration rules. ANO leader Andrej Babis expressed his bewilderment at the decision and described it as “incomprehensible.” The far-right Freedom and Democracy (SPD) party, led by Tomio Okamura, has also expressed its intention to call a lower house session, but lacks the necessary number of members to do so.

Babis strongly criticized the government, accusing it of betraying the Czech Republic and being subservient to Brussels. He argued that the Czech Republic should have the autonomy to decide who can reside within its borders. Babis emphasized that ANO will make the reform of migration rules a central issue in the upcoming 2024 European elections.

To convene the urgent session, a minimum of 40 Members of Parliament must sign the motion. ANO, with its 71 members, has already started collecting signatures. The SPD, however, only has 20 members and will attempt to raise the topic in the regular lower house session scheduled for Tuesday afternoon. According to parliamentary rules, an extraordinary session must be called within 10 days after the motion is tabled.

Interior Minister Vit Rakusan from the STAN party expressed his satisfaction with the agreement, considering it a success. He emphasized that the negotiated solution avoids binding quotas for redistributing migrants, an aspect previously rejected by the Czech Republic, Poland, and Hungary. Instead, the approved proposal offers various options to assist overburdened countries, such as direct financial contributions, sending experts, or providing material support. If a country refuses to accept migrants, it will be required to pay a fine of 20,000 euros per person not accepted.

The reform was approved by EU interior ministers, with only Hungary and Poland voting against it. Slovakia, Malta, Lithuania, and Bulgaria abstained from voting, according to Deutsche Welle.

The Czech Republic will benefit from a temporary exclusion from the compulsory solidarity system due to the influx of refugees from the war in Ukraine. Once the temporary protection regime for Ukrainian refugees concludes, the Czech Republic will become eligible for financial contributions under the solidarity agreement.

The issue of migration continues to be a contentious one within the European Union, and the outcome of the lower house session in the Czech Republic will likely have implications for the broader discussions surrounding EU migration policies.

Article by Prague Forum