The EU was accused of ‘raping’ its own values yesterday after its top court ruled that countries should be forced to accept refugees under a relocation scheme.
In an escalating row over its migration policy, Brussels threatened to sanction any member states who refuse to comply after the European Court of Justice dismissed a complaint about the rules.
But the warning was met with a furious response by Eastern European countries who have opposed the system, highlighting escalating splits over how to deal with the ongoing migration crisis.
The ruling came after Hungary and Slovakia asked the ECJ to quash an EU decision to share 120,000 refugees in Italy and Greece at the height of Europe’s migrant influx in 2015.
The EU was accused of ‘raping’ its own values after its top court ruled countries should be forced to accept refugees under a relocation scheme. The ruling came after Hungary and Slovakia asked the ECJ to quash an EU decision to share 120,000 refugees in Italy and Greece at the height of Europe’s migrant influx in 2015. (Above, refugees at the Hungarian border in 2015)
Hungary accused the Luxembourg court of making an ‘outrageous and irresponsible’ politically driven decision.
Foreign minister Peter Szijjarto said: ‘Politics has raped European law and European values.
‘This decision practically and openly legitimates the power of the EU above the member states.’
While Brussels expects previously non-compliant countries to accept refugees within weeks, Mr Szijjarto pre-empted a bitter stand-off by saying ‘all legal means’ would be used to oppose the decision. He added: ‘The real battle is only just beginning.’
Hungary has refused to accept a single refugee as part of its hard-line response to the crisis that also saw an electronic fence being built along its border.
The argument comes after months of increasingly hostile political debate between Eastern European countries and Brussels over its handling of the crisis.
Hungary accused the Luxembourg court of making an ‘outrageous and irresponsible’ politically driven decision. Foreign minister Peter Szijjarto (above) said: ‘Politics has raped European law and European values’
While Brussels has insisted the move is necessary to help deal with the 1.6 million people who arrived in Greece and Italy since 2014, the countries say it is not their responsibility.
They also say that opening their borders to refugees from migrants from war-torn countries such as Syria could leave them open to the threat of terrorism.
As the UK has an opt-out on EU rules regarding asylum, it decided not to take part in the scheme.
Beata Szydlo, the Polish prime minister, said: ‘We expected this decision. However, this does not change the position of the Polish government on migration policy.’
Slovakia prime minister Robert Fico said his government ‘fully respects the court’s decision’ but added that the quotas were ‘politically wrong’.
The ECJ’s ruling said: ‘The court dismisses the actions brought by Slovakia and Hungary against the provisional mechanism for the mandatory relocation of asylum seekers.
‘That mechanism actually contributes to enabling Greece and Italy to deal with the impact of the 2015 migration crisis and is proportionate.’
The EU’s migration commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos said the court’s decision was an opportunity to end in-fighting between member states.
However, he said those countries that refused to take part could be referred to the ECJ and potentially face sizeable fines for breaching EU law.
‘It is time to be united and show full solidarity,’ Mr Avramopoulos said.
‘The door remains, it is still open, and we should convince all member states to fulfil their commitments.’