Introduction
In the autumn of 2024 it was announced that 49 migrant integration centres would be established in Poland in 2025 with the support of the European Union (EU) (Notes from Poland, 2024). The idea behind creating the centres was to ensure that newcomers could access basic services, understand the culture, learn the local language and eventually contribute to the life of the country. Last month Polish province Małopolska announced that it will no longer participate in the programme (Notes from Poland, 2025).
EU-Funded Integration Centres Programme
The EU-funded migrant integration centres programme was established by the Polish Ministry of Family, Labour, and Social Policy with partial funding from the European Commission’s Asylum, Migration, and Integration Fund in the autumn of 2024 (Notes from Poland, 2024). The facilities are meant to be a part of Poland’s new migration policy for 2025-2030.
Given the increasing number of migrants arriving in Poland in recent years, the country needed a more refined approach to regulate migration, and the help centres have become an essential part of an inclusive and thoughtful migration policy. Their main purpose is to provide newly arriving migrants with the necessary tools and information to facilitate their stay in Poland by creating a “one-stop” place where migrants could get help and guidance on any questions that may arise.
The centres aim to work in cooperation with authorities and NGOs that specialise in working with migrants. The facilities will offer language courses, legal assistance, orientation courses and many other services for migrants who cannot integrate into society on their own (Notes from Poland, 2024).
The centres are established at the provincial level and can make a significant contribution to the process of migrant integration into local societies. They will be open to all migrants who have not yet received a long-term residence permit in Poland, a status that, among other requirements, includes knowledge of the Polish language at a B1 level. All the centres will also propose a standardised programme of courses, with a curriculum that includes Poland’s history, administrative and political systems, and cultural heritage (European Commission, 2024).
Apart from providing practical support, another important aim of the government’s programme is to collect accurate data on the number of migrants in Poland and their geographical distribution across the provinces.
Małopolska’s Refusal to Establish Migrant Integration Centres
The integration centres programme was criticised by Poland’s main opposition party — the national-conservative party, Law and Justice (Notes from Poland, 2025). Party representatives have mischaracterised the programme, claiming it is designed to bring more migrants into the country, especially illegal ones. In reality, the centres are intended to support people who are already legally in Poland and need help integrating.
The head of the Małopolska province, Łukasz Smółka, who happens to be a member of the Law and Justice party, declared that “Małopolska will not participate in the call organised by the interior ministry as part of the implementation of integration centres for foreigners”(Notes from Poland, 2025). He and his colleagues later elaborated on the refusal, stating that they do not see the need for creating such facilities.
Law and Justice deputy leader, Mateusz Morawiecki, explained the critique of migrant integration centres by the idea that “we do not want illegal Muslim migrants who change the culture, national identity and violate the safety of our cities and streets”(Notes from Poland, 2025). Moreover, the Law and Justice councillor has submitted a resolution calling for the prevention of creation of immigration centres “or any centres for immigrants illegally crossing the border”. These kinds of statements suggest that political leaders are either unaware of the programme’s actual goals or are deliberately misleading the public for political gain. It is hard to believe that the leader of Law and Justice could believe that Polish language and culture lessons would somehow “change” Polish culture. Therefore, the policy is likely just used as a talking point ahead of the upcoming presidential elections.
More left-leaning politicians criticised the decision, arguing that it is crucial to provide migrants with language courses and other necessary support . They also reminded Smółka that by refusing to establish integration centres, the province risks losing its funding for migrant integration projects in general.
Ironically, one integration centre is already operating in Małopolska. It offers language training, career counselling, and psychological support (Notes from Poland, 2025). Its existence demonstrates both the feasibility and the demand for such services in the region.
Importance of Migrant Integration
The upcoming presidential elections have also affected the government’s stance on migration policy in general. Both the ruling coalition and the opposition are accusing each other of pursuing weak immigration policies that have led to an uncontrolled inflow of migrants. One thing that both sides agree on is that the country’s migration policy must become more restrictive. As a result of the weaponisation of migration by Polish politicians, more citizens are now opposed to the idea of migrant integration centres. Many people now share the belief that these facilities will attract illegal migrants from across Europe.
In Suwałki, a city in northeast Poland, residents even launched a petition against the proposed centre, fearing it would bring instability to the region. The sentiment is echoed by many politicians, who continue to emphasise illegal migration in their rhetoric, even when referring to programmes clearly intended for legal migrants.
Migrant integration centres are essential for creating an environment where newcomers can feel safe in the new country (OSCE, 2019). At the same time, they benefit not only migrants but also the host society as well. By providing free and accessible language courses, the government facilitates smoother daily interactions between migrants and citizens. A migrant who can communicate in Polish is more likely to find employment, participate in local events, and integrate into the cultural and social life of the country. Classes on Polish history and the political system make migrants more aware of the laws and customs of the country in which they live. This allows for the creation of shared values and beliefs and leads to better understanding between migrants and citizens.
Higher levels of integration contribute to the reducing marginalisation of migrants, creating a more united society (OECD, 2018). Integration also leads to lower crime rates, but not for the reasons that a conservative politician would cite. The popular talking point that migrants commit more crimes than citizens is a myth that is not supported by any reliable statistics. However, people who do not speak the language of the country can become targets of crimes. For example, they may be subject to human trafficking, which can increase the prevalence of such criminal activity in the country. As a result, citizens can also be affected by the same criminal schemes that were targeting migrants at first.
Additionally, integration is important from an economic perspective. Migrants who receive early support are more likely to enter the job market, contribute to public finances, and help fill labour shortages, especially in sectors like construction, agriculture, and care work.
However, the process of integration also raises complex ethical questions. One concern is that migrant integration programmes contribute to the erasure of local cultures by encouraging migrants to learn the local language and adopt new traditions. While the first generation of migrants will be able to retain their cultural roots, the second and subsequent generations will end up more and more detached from their ancestry. Therefore, it is essential to strike a balance between integration and cultural preservation. A successful integration policy is not one that forces assimilation but one that encourages mutual adaptation where both migrants and host societies learn from each other.
Human Rights Implications
The absence of integration centres can lead to serious violations of migrants’ fundamental human rights. In addition to their other roles, integration centres serve to uphold rights enshrined in multiple international and European frameworks. These include the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the European Convention on Human Rights, and the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, all of which guarantee non-discrimination, access to social services, and the right to dignity regardless of nationality or migration status.
Without proper assistance, immigrants who do not speak the language can be denied healthcare procedures, as well as necessary legal assistance. Housing discrimination remains a critical issue as well. Although the law prohibits such bias, in practice, many landlords prefer to rent to Polish citizens. Migrants, especially those with limited language skills or no formal employment, face significant challenges in finding stable housing, leading to uncomfortable or unsafe living conditions.
Moreover, certain migrant groups are more vulnerable in this context. For example, if the schools do not facilitate a smooth transition for immigrant children, they may feel isolated, which can greatly impact their mental health. Moreover, they can fall behind in their coursework and receive a poor education overall due to their lack of language proficiency. Absence of integration centres would mean the lack of a safe space that can help such children overcome the challenges of schooling in a new country.
Other migrant groups that are disproportionately affected by different discriminatory practices include women and LGBTQIA+ people: women are more prone to gender-based violence, and LGBTQIA+ people face even more difficulties due to the so-called “double marginalisation” (OECD, 2018). Due to the lack of centres that cooperate with human rights NGOs that can explain the laws, a lot of people affected by those injustices will not even understand that their rights were breached.
Conclusion
The refusal of Małopolska province to establish migrant integration centres can lead not only to a breach of fundamental human rights but also to deterioration of international institutions as well. It shows how weaponisation of migration policy by politicians distorts the public debate and can pose a threat to fundamental human rights.
Additionally, when a province can unilaterally opt out of implementing a nationwide, EU-backed policy, it sets a dangerous precedent for selective compliance. Such behaviour weakens not only national solidarity but also Poland’s credibility within the EU. It signals that international norms and agreements can be disregarded for short-term political gain.
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