European Parliament President Martin Schulz: Let's Listen to Eastern Europe

The EU must listen more to its Eastern European members and find a compromise with them for solving the refugee crisis. The Vishegrad four have made proposals at the summit in Bratislava which must be discussed, stated European Parliament President Martin Schulz at a press conference in Berlin.
According to Schulz, Slovakia and the Czech Republic have tried to find a compromise, and end the dispute between the Vishegrad Group and the rest of the EU members concerning the refugee problem in Europe.

Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia refused adamantly to take into consideration the decisions of the European Council last year for the distribution of refugees from countries like Greece and Italy to take place in accordance with a quota principle in all member-states.

The Czech Republic and Slovakia have proposed, at the meeting in Bratislava, to take in refugees selected by them and to offer personnel and money for the refugees remaining in Italy and Greece.

"It seems reasonable to me to discuss such proposals when they exist. It is important for us to have a dialogue. We cannot continue as we have up to now with confrontation alone," stated Schulz.

Slovakia and the Czech Republic have named their proposal "flexible solidarity".

Schulz stated that an agreement must be concluded with Egypt similar to the one signed with Turkey. Egyptian authorities must stop the trafficking of people and take back refugees. In exchange, the country may receive loans from the IMF which it urgently needs.