On Wednesday Government Spokesperson Zoltán Kovács told Hungarian public television channel M1 that it is important to raise awareness of the fact that every EU Member State must comply with the regulations and fulfil its obligations under the Schengen Agreement and the Dublin Regulation.
Mr. Kovács said that, coming up to the Brussels EU summit scheduled for Thursday and Friday, the situation has remained unchanged: the plan for mandatory relocation quotas has not been withdrawn from the agenda, which indicates that a compulsory distribution system may be established without an upper limit on numbers.
The Government Spokesperson added that it will be no easy task for the Hungarian prime minister to block the plan and to highlight the fact that every Member State must fulfil its obligations – primarily those linked to the Schengen Agreement and the Dublin Regulation – and that they should not establish new mechanisms which are unable to handle the migration crisis.
Referring to the talks between Viktor Orbán and Gyula Molnár, the President of the Hungarian Socialist Party (MSZP), the Government Spokesperson said that the socialists have declined to take part in discussions on the constitutional amendment. With this action they are not only contradicting themselves, he said, but also contradicting common sense, because this issue is about how the country should defend itself.
Regarding the Prime Minister’s meeting with the President of Jobbik Gábor Vona, who has asked for abandonment of the residency bond programme, Mr. Kovács said that Mr. Vona is seeking to secure a bargaining position. When it comes to national issues, however, eventually it will emerge who is offering support and who is imposing conditions.
Mr. Kovács also told Kossuth Rádió’s “180 Minutes” programme that if every Member State had complied with European regulations, “Europe would not be in the predicament it now finds itself in”.
When asked whether there are any incoming official reactions, the Government Spokesperson said that he has seen moderate responses reflecting the wise notion that the clear will of 3.3 million people cannot be questioned. The new unity which has been established on this issue cannot be denied by any EU institution or politician, he said.
Regarding yesterday’s statement by Minister of the Prime Minister’s Office János Lázár, according to which he will submit a proposal on tightening public spending, Mr. Kovács said that public procurement regulations can be further strengthened if necessary.
In reaction to a statement made by Mayor of Budapest István Tarlós, in which he said that the Government should make the final decision on the issue of a new “super hospital”, Mr. Kovács said that the policy decision has been made.
Necessary hospital-related developments must be implemented, and the Government will provide the resources needed. The Kelenföld area, for instance, might be a suitable location, he said, and experts will need to make the related proposals.