According to estimates from Brussels, Slovenia would receive 297 people from Italy and 198 from Greece. That's a total of 45 migrants. That means Slovenia would receive 1,24 percent of the people seeking international protection and asylum, who are already in one of the EU countries. A total of around 40.000 people await relocation in other EU member states in the next two years. 24.000 of them are in Italy and 16.000 in Greece. And that's only around 40 percent of all the asylum seekers in need of international protection, who have entered the two countries in 2014.

Many not in favour of the proposal
The plan needs the support of a majority of EU member states – at the moment it seems to lack such support. Many countries, like for example Poland and France, oppose the plan. Experts say it is a question of costs, political will and acquiring public support. Also opposing the proposed system are Great Britain, Spain, Hungary, Slovakia and Estonia.

In his reaction to the commission's proposal one week ago, Slovenia’s PM Miro Cerar reminded of the European Council's April statement, which said the accepting of refugees by EU member states would be voluntary. Slovenia's Foreign Minister, Karl Erjavec, thinks it is right for Slovenia to accept a certain number of refugees in the name of solidarity. However, he said that "at this moment" he couldn't comment on the specific numbers. He stressed that the question of specific numbers was under the domain of the Ministry of Interior.

Erjavec refused to comment the specific numbers in the Brussels proposal but he did reiterate that "Slovenia had to show solidarity" and that it had showed solidarity until now. Among other things Slovenia helped Italy by taking part in the Mare Nostrum operation. "It's difficult to say whether the numbers suggested by Brussels i.e. the European Commission will be the final figures. However, I think it is only right that we do take in a few refugees out of solidarity, which has to be strengthened within the European Union," was Erjavec's answer to the press during his visit to the Northern Primorska region.

The Ministry of Interior will thoroughly examine the proposal from Brussels and draw up a position respecting Slovenia's capabilities in preserving its level of internal security. The ministry also stressed that Slovenia supports the implementation of the principles of solidarity and aid between EU member states.

A. P. J., G. V.; translated by K. J.