The European Commission is pushing for the introduction of quotas on the number of refugees accepted by individual EU states. Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka is convinced that the proposed measure will not yield results: 'There are no rules or limits that would prevent migrants, redistributed through a quota system, from moving to countries with higher living standards and a generous social security system. There are no ways that would prevent their relocation to regions where relatives live or where there is a community corresponding to their religious affiliation.'
Under the European Commission's plans, the Czech Republic is required to accept 525 refugees on its territory over the next two years. According to Interior Minister Milan Chovanec, such a number does not pose a serious problem for the country, but it would be good to first develop precise rules for receiving forced migrants: 'It is unclear to us how to comply with the proposed quotas. If the Czech Republic accepts 500 refugees on its territory, they will all receive a visa permitting stay. This will give them the right to move freely within the Schengen area. We do not know how to ensure that these people do not end up in Paris or Germany within two days.'
Parliamentary communists warn that quotas could even become a subject of proceedings in the European Court of Justice. 'This bureaucratic decision contradicts the founding documents of the European Union. The bureaucratic apparatus of Brussels cannot dictate the introduction of quotas to us. I advise these bureaucrats to come to their senses,' says Communist Party leader Vojtěch Filip.
According to Radio Prague, the position of the current cabinet is also supported by the head of state, Miloš Zeman. He believes that the most effective option is to provide assistance to refugees directly in their home countries or in territories of states neighboring conflict zones.