Poland says will not accept migrant quotas after Paris attacks
"The attacks mean the necessity of an even deeper revision of the European policy towards the migrant crisis," Konrad Szymanski said at a Saturday briefing.
By REUTERSUpdated: NOVEMBER 14, 2015 19:47Migrants fleeing from Syria react to Paris attack
Poland cannot accept migrants relocated under a European Union quota system after the attacks in Paris without security guarantees, its incoming European affairs minister said on Saturday, in a sign that the attacks may seriously undermine EU refugee policy.Konrad Szymanski will take up his post on Monday in the government formed by the winners of last month's election, the conservative and eurosceptic Law and Justice (PiS) party."The attacks mean the necessity of an even deeper revision of the European policy towards the migrant crisis," he said at a Saturday briefing."We'll accept (refugees only) if we have security guarantees. This is a key condition, and today a question mark has been put next to it all around Europe," he added without elaborating on what he meant by security guarantees.In comments on right-leaning website wPolityce.pl, Szymanski reiterated that the incoming government did not agree with Poland's commitment to take part in an EU-wide relocation of immigrants.In September, Poland broke ranks with its ex-communist partners from the 'Visegrad group' - Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia - by backing a European Union plan to share out 120,000 refugees across the 28-nation bloc.Under the plan, agreed by the outgoing center-right, pro-EU government, Poland was to take in 4,500 refugees, adding to some 2,000 it has already accepted.In a comment on RMF FM radio, Szymanski said: "The (EU Council) decision is valid for all EU countries, but its implementation is very hard to imagine today."The migrant crisis was a key issue in the Polish election campaign, with PiS strongly critical of the government's decision.Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the attacks in Paris in which at least 127 people were killed.
Poland's incoming Prime Minister Beata Szydlo lit a candle at the French Institute in the southern city of Krakow on Saturday.At a briefing she refused to comment on the migrant issue, adding that she and her government will do everything "for the Polish nation to feel safe."