Sutaj Estok: Slovakia Isn't Paying and Won't Pay for Rejected Migrants

Bratislava, 6 November (TASR) - Slovakia is not paying and won't pay for rejected migrants redistributed from other countries, and the EU should support the country in the area of security and the protection of its external borders rather than demand payments for not taking in migrants, said Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok (Voice-SD) in response to Friday's report stating that Slovakia won't be exempt from the solidarity mechanism. As TASR learnt from Interior Ministry spokesman Matej Neumann, the ministry is actively addressing the issue of migration solidarity and defending Slovakia's interests. As a direct neighbour of war-torn Ukraine, Slovakia bears both costs and responsibilities associated with protecting migrants, with tens of thousands of people who fled the war living on its territory. "If the European Commission (EC) doesn't consider the scope of this aid to be sufficient for an exemption from further solidarity contributions, it should re-evaluate how it assesses solidarity. Under these circumstances, Slovakia expects support in strengthening its security, rather than pressure for further direct payments," stated Neumann. Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) said in June that Slovakia would rather pay some €4 million for 2026 than accept redistributed migrants. However, neither the Interior Ministry nor the EC have confirmed for TASR that the contribution will be paid. Sutaj Estok's statement came on Friday following the publication of the EC's annual migration report, according to which Slovakia is not entitled to receive a deduction from the so-called EU solidarity pool for 2027. EU-member states still have to agree on the final form of the pool, the level of contributions and any exemptions at the Council of the EU. The decision will be taken by a qualified majority, i.e. the votes of at least 15 countries representing at least 65 percent of the EU's population. Slovakia requested an exemption back during the first cycle of the mechanism for 2026, which began to be applied in June following the entry into force of the Migration and Asylum Pact, primarily arguing that it had accepted tens of thousands of refugees from Ukraine. However, as it wasn't included among the countries eligible for an exemption, it asked the EC to reassess the situation. Member states can demonstrate their solidarity with countries facing migratory pressure in several ways - by accepting asylum-seekers, making a financial contribution or providing other assistance, such as personnel or materiel. Countries facing the greatest migratory pressure can receive support from the solidarity pool. jrg/df