EU temporarily exempts five countries from obligation to accept migrants: What is known
Illustrative photo: Poland and four other countries allowed not to accept refugees in 2026 (Getty Images)
Poland, Austria, Croatia, Czechia, and Estonia will temporarily stop accepting migrants. The European Union made this decision, according to Polskie Radio.
European ministers, during a meeting in Brussels, explained their decision by citing Poland’s costs for guarding its eastern border with Belarus. In addition, the country has already received a large number of refugees from Ukraine.
The EU’s decision applies only to 2026, but Polish and European diplomats believe it will be extended.
Poland has long sought an exemption from the EU’s solidarity mechanism. Under EU rules, member states must either accept migrants or pay €20,000 per person in case of refusal.
Marcin Kierwiński, Poland’s Minister of Interior, said the country has been recognized as facing migration pressure due to its support for Ukraine. He also expressed hope that the decision will remain in effect for many years.
Earlier, European countries agreed on stricter rules for granting asylum and returning migrants, opening the way for one of the largest migration reforms in recent years.
The decision provides for a new system for evaluating asylum applications, an expanded list of "safe countries of origin," and common rules for returning migrants who have not been granted protection in the EU.
After the war, Ukraine will need to attract labor migrants, as the current workforce shortage is already critical and is expected to deepen.
RBC-Ukraine also reported that Ireland is shortening the period of free residence for Ukrainians and introducing new financial conditions for those who work.
In the United Kingdom, radical changes in asylum policy are planned, including proposals to limit the length of stay for refugees in the country.
