Many countries — particularly in Eastern Europe — have refused to go along with the scheme, with both Slovakia and Hungary challenging the scheme in the European Court of Justice.
Now, Slovakia's Prime Minister has delivered a huge blow to the plan, telling journalists:
"Quotas today clearly divide the EU, therefore I think they are politically finished."
The migrant crisis has divided the EU, with many countries erecting border controls — including razor wire fences — to stem the flow of migrants flooding into Europe from Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, neighboring refugee camps in the Middle East, as well as Africa.
Migration challenges need common and European approach. Solidarity is not à la carte. #refugeecrisis #westernbalkans https://t.co/6TaGelJtkQ
— DimitrisAvramopoulos (@Avramopoulos) 24 September 2016
Significant Opposition
The massive increase of migrants in 2015 — following German Chancellor Angela Merkel's declaration that Germany's doors were open to refugees — the situation worsened and the principle of a borderless EU — the Schengen Zone — was thrown out of the window.
#Hungary Prime Minister #Orban speaks plainly to #Merkel yet again about #Migrants pic.twitter.com/PoCeyUwQYG
— Greig Markham (@BearGardenMan) 25 September 2016
Greece and Italy bore the brunt of the crisis, with tens of thousands making the journeys across the West Balkan route, the Aegean Sea and the Mediterranean Sea to reach refuge. Many traveled on further, but tens of thousands are still in camps.
The scheme to relocate 160,000 form Greece and Italy to EU members states has only — so far — actually relocated 5,595, as many countries are refusing to take them in — particularly because of a rise in Islamophobia.
One year after #EU relocation scheme, thousands still stranded in #Greece. Our report: https://t.co/Vxgkr3SBtg #refugeesgr #IWelcome pic.twitter.com/uiEnE0um4V
— Amnesty EU (@AmnestyEU) September 22, 2016
Hungary is holding a referendum on the mandatory quota plan, October 2, which is expected to overwhelmingly support its government's position. There have been street protests in Poland with many backing the Warsaw Government's refusal to take in refugees — particularly Muslims.
pic.twitter.com/0SC4AK16kV Government of #Poland Defies European Union Refuses Take Islamic Refugees
— Milie (@Milieis) 26 September 2016
The fact that Fico has declared the quota plans "finished" is significant as Slovakia holds the rotating presidency of the EU, which will make it politically difficult for Brussels to impose the scheme in practice. Slovakia is also a member of the Visegrad group — along with the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland — which represents a significant bloc, opposing the quota scheme.
