Poland Criticizes Sweden's Reluctance to Take Ukrainian Refugees

The last thing Western Europe needed was more refugees, but that is what they are getting-this time from Ukraine. And unlike millions of migrants from places like the Middle East and Africa, these are legitimate refugees.

Yet Sweden, which has taken in countless migrants from the aforementioned regions, at great costs both financially and socially (in terms of crime, anti-Semitism, terrorism, and Islamist radicalism) is balking at accepting refugees from Ukraine. 

In the below article from the conservative Swedish site, Nyheter Idag, Polish politician and Member of European Parliament, Dominik Tarcznsky, who condemned the Swedish position, explains the differences between the Ukrainian refugees and the migrants from the Middle East and Africa.

The translation from Swedish is by Fousesquawk.

 https://nyheteridag.se/polskt-fordomande-mot-sveriges-ovilja-att-hjalpa-ukrainska-flyktingar/

Polish condemnation of Sweden’s unwillingness to help Ukrainian refugees

So-called refugees from Afghanistan, the Middle East, and Africa are fine. But when a country in Sweden’s vicinity is attacked, solidarity is blown away. That is roughly how the top Polish politician, Dominik Tarczinski, describes the Swedish stance that Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson announced earlier- Sweden’s government does not understand the difference between true refugees and illegal migrants from the Middle East, he says to Nyheter Idag.

About a week ago, Dagens Nyheter published an interview with Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson, where the headline declared that “other counties can take responsibility for Ukrainian refugees”. Andersson’s reasoning was based (on the fact) that Sweden had earlier taken in large numbers of people from countries in the Middle East and North Africa, which is why there is no possibility of helping refugees from Ukraine.

At the same time, Poland has already taken in more than two million people from Ukraine. And more are expected to flee the country now that Russia has carried out what seems to be a full-scale invasion.

Nyheter Idag spoke with the Polish top politician and EU parliamentarian from the conservative government Law and Justice party. He is deeply critical of Magdalena Andersson’s position that other countries should take responsibility for Ukrainian refugees. If there are any refugees that Sweden should help, they are refugees from the region, he says. 

In addition, Tarczynski believes that it shouldn’t be any large practical problem for Sweden to take in Ukrainian refugees.

“They pay taxes, and they contribute to the economy. We have not seen any increased crime or other problems with this group. They are peaceful people,” he says.

Do Ukrainian citizens live on Polish social aid?

“No, certainly not. We have clear rules. People have to pay taxes for a certain time before there is any possibility of that. It’s not that people have these rights just because they set foot in Poland. And there is no need for this; these people gladly take jobs and support themselves.”

Migration from Ukraine to Poland took off around 2014 with the Maidan protests, the Russian annexation of Crimea, and the conflicting Donbas in Eastern Ukraine. Since then 8 years have passed and Tarcznski believes that we now (see how it works).

We have had refugees from Ukraine for several years now. They don’t try to live off other people’s money, pensions, or taxes paid. Our experience goes back almost 10 years when Ukrainian refugees came in large numbers to Poland. There have been no attacks, conflicts, murders, or acts of terror. On the contrary, they pay their taxes and contribute to Poland’s economy. 

Sweden earlier criticized Poland for not taking in refugees from countries like Syria and Iraq. What do you think about that?

“Swedish politicians do not understand what a true refugee is. According to international law, you are a refugee until you arrive in the nearest safe country. You are a refugee when you flee from a country in conflict until you arrive in the first safe country.”

“Leftist politicians don’t understand; they lack education. The Swedish government does not understand the difference between true refugees and illegal migrants,” he concluded.

-Chang Frick