KDH: Gov't Fails to Secure Migration Pact Exemption, Leaving Public to Pay

Bratislava, 6 November (TASR) - Slovakia has once again failed to secure an exemption from the EU's migration solidarity mechanism, opposition Christian Democratic Movement (KDH) representatives stated on Friday, describing the result as further evidence of the weak position of Prime Minister Robert Fico's (Smer-SD) government within the EU. As TASR learnt from Mario Marcinek from KDH's communications department, the party also criticises Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok (Voice-SD) for claiming that Slovakia isn't going to pay for rejected migrants, rather than explaining the diplomatic failure. According to KDH MEP and member of the European Parliament's Bureau Miriam Lexmann, the government's incompetence is exposing Slovak people to financial consequences. "KDH has repeatedly called on the Slovak government to negotiate an exemption for Slovakia as well. The fact that the government has failed in this merely shows what position it holds in Brussels and how it is perceived. Except for Slovakia, all countries that applied for an exemption have received one," said Lexmann. KDH maintains that the government had ample time to promote Slovakia's interests and secure the same conditions as those received by other EU member states. Instead of delivering results, however, it resorts to strong rhetoric, but this doesn't change the fact that Slovakia did not get the exemption it was seeking. KDH also drew attention to contradictory statements made by government representatives. "While Prime Minister Robert Fico announced in June that Slovakia would contribute more than €4 million to the mechanism instead of taking in more than 200 migrants, the interior minister has now said that Slovakia isn't paying and won't pay. However, simply refusing to make payments cannot be confused with successfully negotiating an exemption," stated KDH, describing it as unacceptable for the government to cover up its failed diplomacy with confrontational rhetoric and make the public bear the consequences. On Friday, the EC published its annual migration report, according to which Slovakia is not entitled to an exemption from the 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. In response to Friday's report, Sutaj Estok said that Slovakia is not paying and won't pay for rejected migrants redistributed from other countries, while 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. 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. jrg