Slovakia agrees to relocate refugees on voluntary basis

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico participated at the EU summit on Thursday, with the country agreeing to distribute 40,000 refugees on a voluntary basis. It will accept 100 people. It has refused mandatory quotas and the relocation of 120,000 people who may need international protection. Slovakia was joined in its stance by the Czech Republic, Hungary and Romania. Despite their resistance, the relocation was Okayed by a majority vote at the council of EU interior ministers. According to Robert Fico there were tensions evident between the states that support the permanent mechanism of distributing refugees, and the V4 group members including the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia. "It is clear that many of the countries who would welcome the mandatory quota realise that it will be a great conflict if there is any attempt to enforce the mandatory scheme", said Robert Fico.