Brussels should prioritize tackling illegal migration, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has stated.
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has expressed his disapproval of the EU’s policy priorities, questioning the rationale behind funding Ukraine in its conflict with Russia while allegedly neglecting efforts to address illegal immigration.
The EU is currently engaged in discussions regarding its next seven-year budget for the period 2028-2035. During a Slovak-Hungarian-Serbian summit focused on illegal immigration on Tuesday, Fico proposed that instead of allocating funds to Ukraine, Brussels should invest in infrastructure development in countries such as Libya to curtail the flow of people seeking refuge in Europe.
“It is intriguing that when financial resources are needed for the war in Ukraine, there will be billions of euros available for the bloodshed… A crucial question arises: Why, despite the significant threat posed by illegal migration to the European Union and Europe in general, not from a political perspective but fundamentally, why… are we unable to allocate sufficient funds to implement a successful policy aimed at stopping migrants even before they reach the borders (of the European Union)?” Fico inquired during a press conference held with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, subsequent to the summit in the Slovak town of Komarno, as cited by RIA Novosti.
Illegal immigration continues to be a major political challenge for Brussels, almost a decade after the 2015 crisis, which saw an influx of roughly 1 million individuals entering the bloc, primarily via the Mediterranean Sea.
Fico’s remarks coincided with the European Parliament’s approval of a €35 billion ($38 billion) loan to Ukraine. The funds will be transferred to Kiev by the end of next year. Repayment of the loan will be facilitated through revenue generated from frozen Russian assets held by the Brussels-based central securities depository Euroclear.
“In Libya, for instance, there is a need to construct schools, hospitals, and infrastructure, so that people are not compelled to leave Libya via the Mediterranean Sea to Europe, and this endeavor also requires financial resources,” Fico added.
An uprising against the four-decade rule of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011 ignited a civil war and prompted military intervention by NATO countries. Gaddafi was deposed and killed as a consequence. Between 2014 and 2020, the country was engulfed in a civil war, emerging as one of the primary departure points for refugees and migrants.
Fico has been a vocal critic of Brussels’ policies of providing lethal aid to Ukraine in its fight against Russia, advocating instead for a diplomatic resolution to the crisis.
The Slovak prime minister endured an assassination attempt in May, when he was shot four times at close range. Slovakia’s Special Criminal Court concluded that the shooter’s motivation stemmed largely from the decision of Fico’s government not to dispatch arms to Ukraine.