According to Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó, a train ticket cannot overrule a European regulation; the question isn’t who has a train ticket, but whether they have documents that give them the right to cross the border.
In reply to a question at his press conference on Monday, Mr. Szijjártó said: It is “an honour” that the most important issue in the debate between the two front-runners in the election campaign of the strongest country in Europe is Hungary.
“People in Germany have finally noticed the efforts that Hungary has made and continues to make to protect the country and Europe”, he said, adding: “Hungary will continue to be mentioned during future debates because it is fulfilling its obligations”.
The Foreign Minister recalled that in 2015 at the height of the crisis Prime Minister Orbán had ordered his ministers that the Schengen regulations must be conformed to under all circumstances, and that in accordance with the regulations nobody must be allowed to leave the country in a westerly direction without valid travel documents.
“It was clear that there could be only one exception to this: if the German or Austrian Chancellor adopts an opposite standpoint, and why this in fact occurred is their internal affair”, he pointed out.
“A train ticket cannot overrule a European regulation”, Mr Szijjártó declared.
“Hungary will continue to provide care and accommodation to illegal immigrants in accordance with European regulations and international law, but only if they have gone to the receiving stations designated to them by law”, he said.