Czechia to ask EU for exemption from solidarity payments over migration

The European Commission has classified Czechia among EU countries experiencing a “significant migration situation” because of the large number of refugees from Ukraine. In its first annual report on migration and asylum, the Commission said Czechia may therefore request an exemption from the EU solidarity mechanism. The Czech Ministry of Interior now said it would send an official letter requesting the exemption, as Czechia continues to host almost 400,000 refugees from Ukraine. Outgoing Prime Minister Petr Fiala (Civic Democrats) said the Commission’s report confirmed in that Czechia does not have to accept or fund migrants, despite claims by the ANO and the Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD) parties. Interior Minister Vít Rakušan (Mayors and Independents) added that Czechia still has the highest number of Ukrainian refugees per capita in the EU.