Poland will be exempted from the European Union’s mandatory migrant relocation scheme for another year, according to sources in Brussels. The waiver follows a similar decision taken in 2025 and recognises Warsaw’s ongoing challenges with irregular migration and its role in hosting Ukrainian refugees.
Andrzej Wyrwiński, a correspondent for Polsat News, confirmed that the European Commission will recommend extending Poland’s exclusion from the mandatory solidarity mechanism that forms part of the EU’s new migration and asylum pact. The decision means Poland will not be required either to accept relocated migrants or to pay a financial contribution for declining to do so through the end of 2026.
The Commission is due to present a report on 4 November analysing the migration situation across member states. That assessment will determine which countries fall under the mandatory solidarity mechanism, which requires EU nations to support states facing high migratory pressure through financial contributions, technical and material assistance, or by accepting relocated asylum seekers.
Why Poland qualifies for exemption
According to the source cited by Polsat News, “there will be no surprise” in this year’s evaluation. The Commission is expected to classify Poland both as a country facing increased migratory pressure and as one dealing with a difficult migration situation, mirroring last year’s assessment.
Poland’s exemption stems from two key factors: the substantial number of Ukrainian refugees residing in the country and persistent attempts at illegal border crossings along its eastern frontier. Warsaw has been dealing with ongoing security challenges on its border with Belarus, where organised attempts to breach the frontier have been documented.
Poland’s current exemption runs until the end of this year. Once the Commission forwards its recommendation to the Council of the European Union, approval is considered a formality, sources say.
Low uptake across the bloc
The mandatory solidarity mechanism has struggled to meet its targets across the EU. For 2026, the Commission announced plans to relocate 21,000 people and called for member state contributions totalling €420 million. However, EU countries have pledged to relocate barely 9,000 individuals, less than half the proposed figure.
Germany has committed to accepting the largest number, agreeing to take 4,500 people. In practice, Berlin will process asylum applications for individuals who arrived in Germany via Italy and Greece. Under EU law, responsibility for examining asylum claims normally rests with the first member state a migrant reaches.
The migration and asylum pact, which includes the mandatory solidarity mechanism, represents the EU’s attempt to share responsibility more equitably among member states. However, implementation has revealed deep divisions over quotas and financial obligations.
What this means for Poles in Poland
The exemption means Poland will not face pressure to accept relocated migrants from southern European countries during 2026, nor will it be required to make financial contributions in lieu of relocation. For Polish taxpayers, this avoids an additional budgetary commitment at a time when public finances are under strain from other pressures, including defence spending.
Poland’s status under the pact reflects the reality that the country continues to host a large population of Ukrainian refugees who fled following Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. While many Ukrainians have since moved on or returned home, Poland remains a key destination and transit country.
The eastern border situation also remains a live security concern, with authorities continuing to report organised attempts at illegal crossings. The exemption acknowledges that Poland is already bearing a significant share of the EU’s migration challenges, albeit in a different form from the pressures faced by Mediterranean member states.
The Commission’s formal report is expected on 4 November, with a Council decision to follow shortly thereafter. Polish citizens can expect official confirmation from Warsaw once the Council formalises the exemption.
