Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk declared Poland’s uncompromising stance on illegal migration during the EU summit in Brussels, held Oct. 15–16, 2026. In a statement published Sunday, Tusk said Poland “will not repeat the mistakes of other European countries, nor will it pay for them,” adding that the country “firmly defends the border against illegal migration, has its own asylum policy (we do not accept applications), and deports those who break Polish law.” He emphasized that on security, Poland “will be relentless,” a position he said he conveyed directly to European leaders in Brussels .
Tusk’s declaration followed a series of meetings at the summit, including with the leaders of the Visegrád Group and a dedicated session on migration with the prime ministers of Italy, Denmark, and the Netherlands. During a press conference in Brussels, he stated that Poland’s approach—strict border control, no asylum applications, and rapid deportations—was increasingly seen as a model by other EU members. “What we are doing—tough asylum policy, border control, stopping illegal immigrants—is slowly becoming, if not yet a European doctrine, something most would like to emulate, and some already are,” Tusk said .
The Polish Prime Minister’s Office noted that Poland, alongside Denmark and Italy, is among the countries advocating for effective border protection and exerting significant influence on EU migration policy. Tusk reiterated his position on social media, stating that European leaders in Brussels had heard his message on Poland’s zero-tolerance approach to illegal migration and security violations .
The EU’s migration debate has intensified following a July surge in irregular crossings, when over 70,000 migrants entered Spain’s North African exclave without authorization. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen responded at the time by demanding an immediate halt to dangerous border crossings, the dismantling of smuggling networks, and swift returns in line with EU rules .
