President Klaus Iohannis said on Thursday, September 17, that Romania would continue to oppose the mandatory refugee quotas, but that, despite this opposition, the EU might force Romania into receiving more refugees than the country agreed.

According to the European Commission, Romania should receive over 6,350 refugees, while Romanian officials say that Romania can only take in 1,785 immigrants.

The European Parliament approved on September 17 the measures proposed by the EC for solving the refugee crisis, including the mandatory quota system. The leaders of the EU member states will meet on September 22 in an extraordinary European Council, to make a final decision on this matter.

According to President Iohannis, if Romania were to receive more refugees, it could use EU funds to expand its refugee centers. The center for refugees located in Horia, Arad county, western Romania, has already been expanded from 52 to 160 places, after a EUR 2.3 million investment.

editor@romania-insider.com

(photo source: unhcr.org)