European Union has been trying to curb the arrival of refugees while the discussion on the new asylum continues within. Several countries voice harsh objections to the European Commission for proposing fines for countries not accepting refugees and visa liberation to Turkey.

EP GROUPS OBJECT TO TURKEY DECISION

Other European countries also object to the advisory decision by the Commission regarding Turkey and visas. European Parliament Conservatives Group Chair Manfred Weber said the Commission’s decision was “incomprehensible”.

EP Social Democrat Group Interior Affairs Spokesperson Birgit Sippel said, “It is unacceptable that the EU Commission is giving Turkey a political reduction.”

EP Liberal Group Chair and former Belgium Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt said the “Antiterror Act” in Turkey was used for oppression and torture of foreign and local journalists. One of the last 5 criteria the EU Commission requires from Turkey for visa liberation is on this issue.

“IF TURKEY DESERVES IT, YOU DESERVE IT TOO”

Visegrad countries comprised of Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Poland had held a meeting with the foreign ministers of Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Armenia, Belarus and Moldova in Prague.

Hungary Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said, “It is unacceptable for Turkey to receive this right before Georgia and Ukraine, who are ready to implement the reforms.”

DISCUSSION ON FINES FOR NOT ACCEPTING REFUGEES

According to the plan announced by the EU Commission recently, the countries that refuse to accept refugees from primarily Turkey according to a quota system will be fined. The plan proposes a € 250.000 fine for every rejected refugee.

But this means hundreds of millions, even billions of euros in fines for countries like Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and Czech Republic who object to the refugee quota. Poland Foreign Minister Witold Waszczykowski said, “I am asking myself whether this is an actual proposal or an April Fool’s joke,” in critique of the Commission.

Hungary’s government has also shown a similar reaction. The Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto described the proposed fine as “blackmail” and said it was an “unreasonable”, “Non-European” proposal.

Czech Republic Foreign Minister Lubomir Zaoralek said, “Any proposal to create divides among us will not be beneficial.”