published:
08.09.2015, 12:14
updated:
08.09.2015 12:15
Prague - The European Commission has failed in fulfilling the measures to end the migration crisis, Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka told journalists today, adding that any debate on how many migrants Czechs should accept according to the EC is meaningless.
Premiér Bohuslav Sobotka navštívil 8. září Nejvyšší kontrolní úřad v Praze. ČTK Doležal Michal
"I´m afraid that the European Commission has rather failed to completely implement all conclusions that were made on the issue previously," Sobotka (Social Democrats, CSSD) said during a visit to the Supreme Audit Office (NKU) headquarters.
He said Europe does not need more new and new plans, but it needs to complete what the European Council agreed on in the past, mainly the reinforcement of the Schengen area protection and the creation of "hotspots" in Italy and Greece where all incoming refugees would be registered.
The European Parliament is to discuss the EC´s new proposal for quotas for the redistribution of another 120,000 refugees on Wednesday.
Sobotka, who is the CSSD chairman, said he expects CSSD MEPs to vote in accordance with the party´s position approved last weekend.
"We reject the system of quotas. I do not consider it effective, I do not think it would help bring any solution. It makes no sense to discuss any numbers for now," Sobotka said.
Czech President Milos Zeman, too, is opposed to the refugee quotas.
"As far as the quotas are concerned, the president´s position is a clear no," Zeman´s spokesman Jiri Ovcacek told a separate press conference today.
According to the EC´s new proposal, the Czech Republic should accept another 3,000 refugees.
Sobotka said the number may not be final and may change in a few months.
"I take any numbers with a great reserve, because they can be quickly surpassed, even today," he said.
Sobotka also said he is for the refugees in the Czech Republic to be given a chance to start working quickly.
Written by:
ČTK
www.ctk.cz
