The Czech Republic refuses to accept more refugees

During the cabinet meeting on Wednesday Minister of the Interior of the Czech Republic Milan Chovanec announced that the Czech Republic is not planning to raise the number of refugees it plans to accept volantarily. So far the country is ready to receive 1100 migrants from the Italy and Greece and 400 - from outside the European Union by the end of 2017.

Český rozhlas informs that the government authorised Minister to reject mandatory quotas proposed by EC President Jean-Claude Juncker. EC suggested the Czech Republic to additionally accept 3000 more refugees. The official meeting will take place in Brussels on September 14.

According to the Minister, refugees would not desire to stay in the Czech Republic. He expects that the country would play a merely transit role on their way to Western Europe. On his opinion, migrants whom the Czech Republic already promised to accept would stay in the country only for the period needed for the asylum procedure to be completed. After that they would leave for Germany or any other country. He added that the asylum procedure only extends their way to desired European states.

At the same time, the Czech Republic stands for imporovement of the situation in Syria and Lybia and stronger protection of the Shengen borders. According to denik.cz, the country is ready to join in case the European commision decides to create international units to guard „Shengen“. The Czech Republic could send there hundreds of police officers.