Prague – Minister of the Interior in resignation, Vít Rakušan (STAN), has submitted a request to the European Commission for the Czech Republic to be exempt from contributions to the common budget aimed at addressing illegal migration. He announced this during a press conference following a government meeting. The Commission released a report indicating that the Czech Republic qualifies as a country facing a significant migration situation due to the influx of refugees from Ukraine, allowing for a request for exemption from the solidarity mechanism.
Rakušan stated, “I have today sent a letter to the Commission, where in full accordance with the rules, I request that the Czech Republic be fully exempted from the obligation to contribute to the solidarity European mechanism, as it has been designated a country critically affected by the migration wave.” He added that if the Czech Republic were not hosting Ukrainian refugees, the terms of the pact would apply. “We will, for example, materially, technically, and logistically help to protect the external border of the European Union,” he asserted, stressing that the agreement does not entail mandatory acceptance of migrants.
According to the Ministry of the Interior, as of midnight on Sunday, there are 397,421 individuals from Ukraine under temporary protection in the Czech Republic, including over 92,500 children and young people under 18, and nearly 17,800 seniors. The ministry reported 123,900 refugees of working age and 164,100 refugee women.
On Tuesday, the European Commission updated member states on those facing migration pressure and how other countries should assist them, proposing the creation of the first Solidarity Fund. The Commission identified the Czech Republic, along with Bulgaria, Estonia, Croatia, Austria, and Poland, as nations experiencing significant migration situations due to cumulative pressure over the past five years, and as such, they can request partial or total deductions of contributions to the fund for the upcoming year.
The migration pact, approved last year and set to take effect in June 2026, aims to improve migration management, enhance controls, and expedite the return of unsuccessful asylum seekers. The pact’s approval faced challenges due to its ten legislative proposals, with the Czech Republic abstaining in all ten votes. (November 12)
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