Headache for Brussels as Slovakian leader declares 'no place' for Islam

Headache for Brussels as Slovakian leader declares 'no place' for Islam
 Europe
The rotating presidency acts as the chair of meetings, and has a major role in shaping policy
 Matthew Day, warsaw  Matthew Holehouse, brussels 
27 MAY 2016 • 2:57PM
Islam has “no place” in Slovakia, the country's prime minister has declared, weeks before he is due to take over the rotating presidency of the EU.

Slovakia is a fierce opponent of the European Commission’s plans to enforce migrant quotas, and is taking legal action to halt the scheme. As such, Slovakia’s chairmanship of the bloc for six months from July presents a major headache for Brussels.

The country has boycotted Mr Juncker’s quotas scheme for 160,000 refugees – which he wants to make a permanent system of handling asylum crises, backed up with fines of €250,000 for each refugee a state refuses to take

 “This may be seem strange…but I’m sorry Islam has no place in Slovakia,” Robert Fico said. “I think it is the duty of politicians to talk about this openly and clearly.

“I do not wish tens of thousands of Muslims coming here and promoting their own stuff,” he continued, adding that taking in Muslims would threaten Slovakian traditions that “go back centuries”.

Mr Fico’s comments dispelled speculation that he might tone down his anti-Islamic immigration rhetoric ahead of Slovakia taking over the presidency.

The position plays a major role in chairing the meeting of national ministers and tabling proposals, and requires close co-operation with the Commission, the EU’s full-time executive.

The post also provides a major platform for Slovakian leaders to hold forth. 

The post is currently held by the Netherlands.

Official papers reveal that Mr Juncker expects countries such as Slovakia to be stripped of billions of pounds in EU infrastructure funding as punishment for their refusal to take part in the quotas scheme

The "solidarity" that rich countries show former communist countries is not a "one way street", Mr Juncker warned at a recent meeting.

Commissioners are recorded as saying that “there was a danger that the EU’s solidarity towards Member States that were net beneficiaries of cohesion funds would be called into question if there were no reciprocal solidarity in the management of refugees.”

“If the allocation of cohesion funds were to be called into question, this would have a considerable impact both on the EU’s internal affairs and on its fundamental values, particularly with regard to solidarity between Member States.”

Mr Juncker is recorded as saying there is a “real risk that the principle of solidarity could be called into question in all EU policy areas if it were not also applied in the reception of asylum seekers.”

Earlier this year Mr Fico pledged that “will never - under a quota system - bring one single Muslim to Slovakia”, saying that they represented a security ris.

Mr Fico has also said that it “is impossible to integrate Muslims”, and on his watch Slovakia has even filed a law suit against the EU over its quota policy.

The country has said it wants to promote a “sustainable” migration policy that will protect the EU’s external borders during its six months in control of the presidency. It also wants the EU to become “more attractive for highly qualified migrants”.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/05/27/headache-for-brussels-as-slovkian-leader-declares-no-place-for-i/