Czech accuses Germany of inviting illegal immigration in EU

Czech Republic's Prime minister Bohuslav Sobotka arrives at the European Council in Brussels to take part in the final European Union (EU) summit of the year on December 17, 2015. Mr Sobotka accused Germany of touching off a wave of illegal immigration by opening its borders to refugees. PHOTO | THIERRY CHARLIER |

What you need to know:

  • Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka accused Germany of touching off a wave of illegal immigration by opening its borders to refugees.
  • Sobotka said the European Union’s 28-member states must retain the power to determine their own immigration policy.
  • German Chancellor Angela Merkel decided in the late summer to stop expelling Syrian refugees and in September agreed with Austria to let in tens of thousands of migrants who were stuck in Hungary, which rejected asylum requests.
  • The Czech Republic has rejected the EU’s system of quotas for distributing refugees across the bloc to try to tackle the massive influx of people fleeing conflict, persecution and poverty in the Middle East and Africa.

BERLIN, Wednesday

Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka accused Germany of touching off a wave of illegal immigration by opening its borders to refugees, in a newspaper interview on Wednesday.

Mr Sobotka told Germany’s daily Sueddeutsche Zeitung that countries like his were paying the price for Berlin’s decision in September and said Prague would continue to resist pressure to take in more asylum seekers.

“Germany sent a message that could be heard and seen in far reaches of the Middle East and North Africa,” he was quoted as saying.

This move “encouraged illegal migration to Europe, that unfortunately cannot be denied,” he added.

“Germany gave top priority to the humanitarian aspects of the crisis, above questions of security.”

OWN IMMIGRATION POLICY

Sobotka said the European Union’s 28-member states must retain the power to determine their own immigration policy.

“We reject pressure for a centrally organised migration policy that only strengthens the radicals and can harm the European idea,” he said.

Sobotka said a permanent EU-wide distribution programme for refugees, as backed by countries such as Germany and France, would be doomed to failure.

“The system wouldn’t work - it cannot be realised against the will and the wishes of refugees themselves” where they would choose to settle.

Sobotka said nevertheless that Prague would stand by its pledge to accept refugees under an EU programme to place 160,000 asylum seekers throughout the bloc - a scheme rejected by Slovakia and Hungary.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel decided in the late summer to stop expelling Syrian refugees and in September agreed with Austria to let in tens of thousands of migrants who were stuck in Hungary, which rejected asylum requests.

The moves were followed by a surge in asylum seekers from Turkey to Greece and then up through the Balkans to Hungary, Austria, Germany and northern Europe.

Germany expects around one million asylum seekers this year.

About 70 per cent of Czech citizens oppose taking in asylum seekers to their country, polls indicate.

HACKED

Meanwhile, Mr Sobotka’s Twitter account fell prey Wednesday to hackers who swamped it with violently anti-immigrant messages.

“Refugees are an invasion army! The few women among them are nothing but the mothers of future terrorists. Guillotine all who help them!” said one of about a dozen messages posted both in English and Czech.

Sobotka’s spokesman Martin Ayrer told AFP the government was taking steps to stop the attacks on the account.

“We don’t know who might be behind the attack but looking at the messages it’s obvious that it is some neo-Nazis,” he added.

“If my Twitter account is attacked by neo-Nazis, I take it as evidence that I am doing my job well. I wish a happy Christmas to all people of good will who reject spreading hatred, prefer humanity and support democracy,” Sobotka himself said on Facebook.

REJECTION

The Czech Republic has rejected the EU’s system of quotas for distributing refugees across the bloc to try to tackle the massive influx of people fleeing conflict, persecution and poverty in the Middle East and Africa.

Sobotka has however shown a friendly face towards migrants, unlike rival President Milos Zeman, who said that jihadists used the migrant wave as a way to slip into the EU.

One of the messages on the prime minister’s Twitter account called for a “white revolution”.

“Democratic elites are devastating Europe. There is no other option but to raise arms, build a guillotine and take the law into our hands,” said another.

Few asylum seekers have chosen to stay in the Czech Republic so far, with a majority heading to wealthier Germany and other western EU states.