The councilors from Piotrków Trybunalski did not take a position on Wednesday regarding the creation of the Center for Integration of Foreigners in this city. A group of protesters and shouts of residents arrived at the session, accompanied by, among others National activist Robert Bąkiewicz. The meeting was interrupted to Friday.
On Wednesday, one point in the agenda of the Piotrków City Council was to be adopted a position in which councilors oppose the establishment of the Center for Integration of Foreigners (CIC) in Piotrków. The draft position was submitted by councilor Łukasz Janik on behalf of the club councilors Piotrków Right – Law and Justice. At the invitation of councilors of this club in the meeting room a group of residents appeared with banners “Stop migration pact”, “stop relocation”.
“Our decision is based on a deep belief that the safety of the inhabitants of Piotrków is a priority, and the introduction of such a center can pose a serious threat. We pay special attention to the experience of other countries such as Sweden or Germany, where similar initiatives led to an increase in social tensions and public safety problems” – it was emphasized in the application read at the session.
During a turbulent discussion, which was to precede voting on a position on the creation of CIC, both the councilors themselves and the residents present in the room; The emotions were so strong that the police were called to calm them down, and the chairman of the council Mariusz Staszek announced breaks several times.
“You try to download migrants, building a complete infrastructure to receive them; the situation in Germany, France was exactly the same. (…) I was in Stockholm recently – after dusk people do not go out into the street – you understand? Gangs are prowling” – said national activist Robert Bąkiewicz in one such break, who joined the protesting residents.
Before voting, President Piotrków Juliusz Wiernicki took the floor, who pointed out that councilors should learn the consequences of the decisions they would make, because violation or non -compliance with the principle of non -discrimination is equivalent, excluding the possibility of applying for support from European Union funds. He explained that after the adoption of the Piotrków position discriminating against foreigners, he could not only lose the chance to raise money from the EU, but also be obliged to reimburse the already received funding together with interest due.
“In total, we will lose about PLN 148 million as Piotrków. (…) It depends on the state, so if you are so eager to talk to – in your assessment – prevent migration, which is nonsense, because something like this will not happen and there is no place, especially illegal migration … – here Wiernicki ended the statement, still interrupted with shouting of the inhabitants and the chairman of the council announced a break in the trip to Friday.
The topic of the centers of integration of foreigners (CIC) created in Poland has recently raised, among others Law and Justice politicians. At the end of March, PiS MPs appeared at the session of the Radom City Council, where they argued that these would be places for migrants with unregulated status. The initiative was associated with the EU migration pact and one of the solidarity mechanisms, i.e. relocation. After this incident, the chairman of the City Council in Radom submitted notifications of suspected crime by Bąkiewicz and the violation of the Electoral Code by MP Marek Suski, consisting in disturbing order during the meeting.
At the beginning of April, in turn, the PiS leader in Podlasie, MP Jacek Sasin, appealed to the adoption of resolutions by local governments opposing the migration policy of the government and the adoption of illegal migrants.
The centers of integration of foreigners, which are to be in a total of 49 in Poland, were created during the PiS rule. In 2022, pilot such points were opened in the province. Opole and Greater Poland.
Cic is based on the formula of the so -called one window (one-stop shop). The point is that a foreigner using the help of such a facility receive all necessary information in official matters, as well as about the services available to it. Support is addressed to foreigners who are already legally in Poland.
The guidelines for the CIC among the tasks prepared by the Ministry of Family, Labor and Social Policy prepared a year ago, among others running an information and advisory point, legal support in the field of employment and procedures related to the legalization of stay, psychological support, counteracting domestic violence or learning Polish. Guidelines that determine the offer and scope of services available in CIC, do not anticipate in any place that foreigners provide accommodation or accommodation, even temporary.
As part of the mentioned pilot, the centers were opened three years ago in Opole and in Poznań and – as branches – in the towns of Greater Poland: in Kalisz, Piła, Leszno and Konin.
“Many Ukrainian citizens looking for shelter in Poland in the face of a military conflict will most likely stay with us, which is why it is important to support them in a new environment for them. Therefore, such an important project, which is all the more time, are newly opened thanks to the initiative of the Ministry of Family and Social Policy of the Centers of Integration of Foreigners” – the former head of MRIPS Marlena Maląg (PiS) stressed in March 2022 with the opening of the Kalisz branch of Cic. (PAP)
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