PM Plenkovic: Wrong are interpretations that the ECJ ruling is against Croatia

Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic has ruled out any fear of deportation of numbers of migrants to Croatia from some other EU countries, following the decision of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) to uphold a European Union rule that requires refugees to apply for asylum in the first EU country they step foot in.

"The judgement made by the ECJ does not change the current practice or procedure which Croatia now applies and which is in accordance with national regulations, the EU acquis and international law," Plenkovic said on Thursday at the government's meeting in Zagreb.

Having in mind the time that has passed since the irregular arrivals of migrants in EU members last year, there is no fear that this judgement may result in a large-scale deportations of migrants who passed through Croatia between September 2015 and April 2016, the premier said.

The relevant ministries -- the ministry of foreign and European affairs and the interior ministry -- will give their positions on the issue after making a thorough analysis of the ruling.

The top EU court in Luxembourg made the said ruling in a case brought by Slovenia and Austria against Croatia.

Text: Hina

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