In an interview on the FMC27NEWS YouTube channel, Polish professor and lawyer Witold Modzelewski of the University of Warsaw articulates a provocative stance against mass migration to Poland, framing it as both economically unsustainable and a manifestation of historical grievances against Europe. As detailed in an April 23, 2025, article from RMX News, Modzelewski estimates that each migrant costs Poland approximately 150 Polish zlotys (€35) per day, a figure he considers conservative. He argues that Poland cannot bear these financial burdens and should reject mass migration outright, emphasising that many migrants harbour a desire for "revenge" against Europe due to its colonial past—a past Poland did not share. This account explores Modzelewski's arguments, centred on the "revenge against Europe" theme, which portrays migration as a deliberate act of retribution that threatens Poland's sovereignty and social cohesion.
Modzelewski's economic argument hinges on the direct and indirect costs of migration. He calculates that accommodating a migrant requires not just food but also housing, security services, and a "state umbrella" of support, conservatively costing €35 daily. This estimate, he notes, is modest compared to higher figures in countries like Germany, where costs are inflated by social welfare, medical care, education, and integration programs—factors Modzelewski may under account for. Indirect expenses, such as infrastructure strain or social services, further escalate the burden. He asserts that Poland lacks the resources to finance such costs, asking, "Who can we take from to finance it? There is no one to take from." This economic strain, he argues, makes mass migration an untenable prospect, especially under the EU's Migration Pact, which could mandate Poland to accept hundreds of thousands of migrants.
The "revenge against Europe" theme is central to Modzelewski's narrative, casting migration as a historical reckoning. He contends that many migrants, particularly from Africa and the Middle East, are driven by a desire to "take revenge" for Europe's colonial past, a motive rooted in "generational transmission" of grievances. These migrants, he suggests, see their presence in Europe as a form of rebellion against centuries of "objective wrongs" perpetrated by "Old Europe." Modzelewski emphatically distances Poland from this legacy, stating, "We have nothing in common with the colonial past of the old West." He rejects any attempt to impose "collective responsibility" on Poland for historical crimes it did not commit, urging a firm "no" to mass migration.
This revenge narrative ties into broader cultural and security concerns. Modzelewski implies that migrants' motivations threaten Poland's social fabric, a fear echoed in Do Rzeczy's report of growing Polish protests against accepting "culturally alien" migrants from Germany. The article notes widespread public opposition, with polls showing Poles reject open borders, as Germany has "dumped" over 10,000 migrants on Poland. Modzelewski's stance aligns with Poland's recent policies, such as Prime Minister Donald Tusk's 60-day asylum suspension at the Belarus border, criticised by Human Rights Watch as violating EU obligations but justified as countering Russia and Belarus' "hybrid warfare" through migration (Euronews, March 27, 2025). The professor's assertion that migrants seek retribution amplifies these security concerns, portraying migration as a deliberate destabilising force rather than a humanitarian issue.
The "revenge" theme also intersects with the Arcadian Magazine concept of "liquid ferality," where globalised conflicts erode high-trust societies. Modzelewski's depiction of migrants as bearing historical grudges mirrors Peter Robertson's warning of imported tensions fracturing civic norms. By framing migration as a vengeful act, Modzelewski taps into fears that cultural differences and unresolved historical animosities could unravel Poland's cohesion, much like the "inter-tribal allegiances" Robertson describes in Britain. This narrative gains traction amid Poland's resistance to the EU Migration Pact, with Tusk declaring non-compliance with the Dublin Regulation (Notes From Poland, March 21, 2025), reflecting a broader rejection of external mandates perceived as punishing Poland for others' historical sins.
Modzelewski's arguments resonate with a Polish electorate wary of EU overreach and cultural change. His call to reject mass migration as unaffordable and historically unjustified reflects a defensive nationalism. The "revenge against Europe" theme, while contentious, galvanises this sentiment, portraying Poland as unfairly burdened by the West's colonial legacy and the EU's migration policies. It underscores a broader clash between national sovereignty and globalised obligations, with Modzelewski warning that accepting migrants risks entangling Poland in a vengeful historical narrative it never authored.
In conclusion, Modzelewski's account frames mass migration as an economic impossibility and a cultural threat driven by migrants' desire for revenge against Europe's colonial past. His €35-per-day cost estimate underscores Poland's fiscal constraints, while his "revenge" narrative casts migrants as agents of historical retribution, a burden Poland must reject to preserve its identity and stability. This perspective captures real anxieties about sovereignty and social cohesion, echoing the American Thinker's critique of elite-driven policies and fuelling Poland's resistance to the EU's migration mandate madness. As protests grow and Tusk defies Brussels, Modzelewski's warnings highlight a nation determined to shield itself from a perceived external vendetta.
"Not only must Poland refuse mass migration due to the societal costs, but the country also simply cannot afford it. Due to this reality, there can be no compromise over mass immigration, says Polish professor and lawyer Witold Modzelewski, who works at the University of Warsaw.
In a conversation on the FMC27NEWS YouTube channel, Prof. Witold Modzelewski said he can provide a conservative estimate of how much each migrant costs Poland per day, which he said is 150 Polish zlotys (PLN), or €35 per day.
"If we chose an assimilation policy – assimilating those who choose us and we agree to have them here – then in today's reality it is not just about mere food. After all, these people need to be provided with a place to stay…. they need to be covered by a state umbrella financing the so-called security services. If we were to assume the reality of today's cost, it is an estimated PLN 150 per day. However, this is an underestimate," said Prof. Modzelewski.
However, in other countries like Germany, these cost estimates are far higher, in part due to the higher cost of living. Modzelewski may also not be factoring in social welfare, medical costs, integration courses, and education into his estimate.
As the professor pointed out, this amount concerns direct expenses, and there would also be indirect expenses.
"Who can we take from to finance it? There is no one to take from. Therefore, let's put this problem aside as one we cannot afford and as one we will not participate in," the professor stated.
He said that even if they can assume that Polish society would like to take on part of the costs of supporting migrants for humanitarian reasons, Poland cannot afford it.
Prof. Modzelewski emphasized that Poland bears no responsibility for the criminal colonial past of "Old Europe." He pointed out that the people who are currently inhabiting Europe through generational transmission "want to take revenge."
"Their rebellion is today, but the motive is the past. And we cannot participate in this," said the professor. "We have nothing in common with the colonial past of the old West and let's not look for anything in common. If someone wants to drag us into collective responsibility for those crimes, for centuries of objective wrongs, then we have to say 'no."'
According to Polish publication Do Rzeczy, "although mainstream media does not show it, a wave of protests is growing in Poland against the transfer of illegal immigrants from culturally alien regions – Africa and the Middle East – from Germany to our country. The lack of consent of Poles to open borders for mass migration is clearly shown by all polls."
Poland is expected to received hundreds of thousands of migrants over the coming years due to the EU migration pact, which obligates member states to accept migrants."