Only 14 EU countries have submitted their National Implementation Plans (NIPs) for managing migration to the European Commission by the 12 December deadline. Almost half of Member States failed to comply, including Poland, Italy, and Hungary, which have not clarified their positions.

The NIPs are a requirement under the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum, adopted in May 2024 after lengthy negotiations. These plans must detail actions, timelines, and costs for adapting to the new rules. A day after the deadline, the European Commission confirmed it has received plans from only 14 countries. A spokesperson stated, “We are in close contact with the remaining Member States and are offering support for their submissions.”

Polish Opposition to Migration Pact

Poland has refused to submit its NIP, citing concerns about the Migration Pact’s provisions. Sources close to the government, led by Donald Tusk, claim Poland sees the pact as incomplete. Warsaw wants to prioritize securing its eastern border, where migration pressures from Belarus remain high.

Interior Minister Tomasz Siemoniak recently welcomed the European Commission’s decision to approve Poland’s temporary suspension of the right to asylum. This measure responds to migration flows from Belarus and Russia. Poland also opposes the pact’s relocation mechanism, which requires EU countries to relocate 30,000 asylum seekers, pay €20,000 per rejected individual, or provide operational support.

Poland, alongside Hungary, voted against the legislation in the Council, expressing dissatisfaction with all three options. Frontex reported 16,530 irregular crossings along the Eastern Land border in 2024, with nearly 14,000 being Ukrainian nationals under temporary protection. Despite opposition, Poland received 9,519 asylum applicants in 2023, reflecting ongoing migration challenges.