By Emma De Ruiter
Published on •Updated
The Polish parliament has voted to extend the suspension of the right to asylum at the country’s eastern border with Belarus.
In total, 366 politicians backed the move, while 17 voted against the extension.
The measure, which has been widely criticised by human rights groups, allows Polish authorities to suspend asylum rights for 60 days at a time. It was first adopted in March, before being renewed this week.
Speaking on Tuesday, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk framed the bill as necessary to combat the flow of migrants entering Poland via Belarus.
The prime minister and others in his government argue that Russia and Belarus are deliberately encouraging foreign citizens to cross the border in an attempt to destabilise Europe. The asylum suspension is necessary because of the “serious and real threat” this poses to Poland’s national security, Tusk said.
Tusk added that only Poland’s “tough” stance has effectively mitigated this influx.
The regulation allows exemptions for certain categories of people, including children, pregnant women, individuals with special healthcare needs, and people deemed at “real risk of harm” if returned over the border.
A last minute amendment to the bill also allows families accompanying minors to claim asylum under the new restrictions.
In February, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) warned Poland that the proposed law would not be compatible with either international or European asylum law.
Human Rights Watch said last month that the EU should take legal action against Poland should the bill be implemented, adding that the legislation “flies in the face of Poland’s international and EU obligations”. It encouraged the Polish parliament to vote it down.
However, a spokesperson for the European Commission recently conceded that it would assess the law in the “context” of the security threat facing Poland.
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