A group of NGOs show their “alarm” over Poland’s plan to suspend the right to asylum

MADRID 15 Nov. () –

A group of NGOs have been “deeply alarmed” by the Polish Government’s project to suspend the right of asylum to contain migratory pressure, as they consider it represents “a significant threat” to fundamental freedoms, and have called for maintaining “a responsible debate” on this matter.

The plan promoted in mid-October by the Government of Donald Tusk and which outlines the roadmap until 2030 contemplates the possibility of temporarily or zonely paralyzing asylum procedures. Warsaw accuses Belarusian authorities of using migrants as a tool of political pressure.

NGOs, including the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) and Amnesty International, consider that the proposal “contravenes values ​​such as solidarity, respect for human rights and dignity, the rule of law, social justice and protection of refugees”, values ​​common to the entire European Union.

In fact, the organizations find it “especially worrying” that the European Council has not spoken out on the matter to condemn it and, instead, has “expressed solidarity” with the Tusk Government, which came to power more than a year ago after a period marked precisely by ultra-conservative policies openly in conflict with Brussels.

“National security and the protection of refugees can and must coexist,” the NGOs insist, warning that there are rights that “are not negotiable” and are enshrined in both international and European treaties.