Addressing the root causes of migration and providing local aid to countries of origin is the most effective way to relieve migratory pressure, according to Polish Foreign Minister Jacek Czaputowicz.
The Polish Prime Minister said earlier in November it was “very likely” that Warsaw would stay out of a UN Global Migration Pact because it wanted to prioritise its own migration controls.
But Poland was not on its own, Mr Czaputowicz told Times of Malta during a short visit. There were a number of countries that were rather sceptical about the substance of the pact.
“We know that the pact is not legally binding but we doubt the balance of the final text. It does not reflect some of our priorities including strengthening sovereignty and a clear distinction between regular and irregular migrants,” he said.
Among other things, the pact pledges signatories to not detain would-be migrants arbitrarily and asks them to only operate a detention policy as a last resort.
Australia, Israel and the United States have also said they would not sign up to the pact, joining Poland and a number of other countries in eastern Europe in rejecting the UN plan.
Still, Poland acknowledged the magnitude of the migration challenge.
It does not reflect some of our priorities
“In our view, the most efficient tool to solve migratory pressure is to address root causes. Of course, this is difficult because the international community has to invest financial resources to foster hope among people encouraging them to continue live there,” he said.
A coherent, well-financed aid strategy that created jobs, supported education and reduced negative effects of population growth and climate change was important, he said. Poland runs and supports several development and humanitarian programmes in Africa and the Middle East, mainly in Lebanon and Jordan, two countries hosting displaced Syrian refugees.
Some of the programmes are bilateral projects, with the funds coming from the government and the aid provided by Polish NGOs.
Apart from participating in Operation Sophia, which aims at combating people smuggling and preventing deaths in the Mediterranean, the country also forms part of the Visegrád Group, an alliance between the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia, which, among others, funds projects in Libya.
Poland was also the fifth largest donor to the EU Trust Fund for Africa, a response to African routes migration, the minister noted.
Poland itself was dealing with migration pressure on a daily basis, with people attempting to move from east to west Europe.
As a bordering EU country, Poland had to focus on border security as well.
Mr Czaputowicz was asked about what issues he believes are threatening the EU’s unity, after recently saying that the bloc must undergo “deep reform” and shoulder some responsibility for the Brexit vote.
He said Poland was against a two-speed or divided Europe. However, in the West, some political parties and movements were increasingly opposing European integration.
While Poland was for an ambitious budget and a strong Europe, there was some opposition, geared at limiting contributions, resources for less-developed countries and cohesion funds among others, he noted.