Mr. Piotr Rakowski:

Thank you. I will first answer Chairman’s questions on the Visegrád group. Firstly, the issue of how to handle this crisis and how to look from the wider perspective was discussed on a number of occasions between our four countries, mostly at the level of Ministers of foreign affairs. There was also a summit of the four countries on 4 September in Prague. There was a joint statement of the Prime Ministers. The position and outcome, and the further discussion that would take place, would not defer from what has been agreed. All four countries highlighted a number of issues and looked not only at the internal perspective but also looked at the wider problems, the root causes for migration and the fact that migrant status has certain differentiations.

One of the key elements was not to introduce the automatic system of quotas just based on the voluntary basis and the capabilities of the member states. In this respect I think that the compromise that was reached yesterday does not, in my opinion, contradict what was discussed earlier and it is in accordance with the position of the Polish Government. As regards the Ukrainian situation, three of the four countries are neighbouring countries with Ukraine. The situation over there definitely was, and still is, an issue of concern. I cannot recall very detailed discussions concerning what might happen if the refugee crisis had potentially originated in Ukraine because it was not that specific and there is not the situation. However, the holistic approach towards Ukraine and the concerns on how the reforms are going, how the Visegrád countries may become involved in terms of support, how the trade and external pressure from Russia and how the situation in the Donbas and in Crimea would develop, these were urgent as well. I think that if it happened again it would be a point of rather deep interest from the countries within this regional grouping.

Now I turn to the Deputy's question on what is the current discussion on the situation on the migrant crisis in Poland. It is not a secret that we are in the process of parliamentary elections, the campaign has started and the debate is rather polarised. There was only one poll taken within Polish society and approximately 50% of the people polled voted against bringing migrants or refugees to Poland. This connects with the last part of my previous intervention - the proper information campaign. On the one hand there are polls which indicate the real scenario and then there is an image which is seen as extreme because there is a strong association between those who are against it – they are confusing the words "economic migrant", "migrant" and "refugee". This confuses the situation when people are fleeing. Then, unfortunately, there is the image of Islam which might be interpreted as ISIS and extreme terrorism, which is false and inappropriate.

It is difficult, based on this rather narrow point of discussion addressing the public agenda, to reach conclusions which will be long lasting. I would refrain from giving an interpretation of society's overall response to this factual situation. Perhaps it will be better in the future, when the political situation has settled, to really monitor the position of the society.