“Hungary will only readmit those migrants who first entered the territory of the European Union at this country”, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó said in a statement to Hungarian news agency MTI Wednesday.
Mr. Szijjártó issued the statement in reaction to comments by Austrian Minister of Interior Wolfgang Sobotka according to which Austria will go to court if Hungary is not prepared to readmit those asylum seekers who, according to EU law, must submit their requests for asylum in the country in which they first entered the territory of the European Union.
In the statement, the Hungarian Foreign Minister declared: “The Hungarian standpoint is clear and unchanged; we will only readmit those who first entered the territory of the European Union at Hungary”.
Mr. Szijjártó pointed out that illegal immigrants from the Middle East and Africa “obviously” entered EU territory in other countries and the fact that the immigrants were not registered in those countries is no excuse.
“Non-compliance with regulations does not mean exemption from the consequences”, he said.
Mr. Szijjártó stressed that Hungary is complying with European regulations, is protecting EU borders and is registering immigrants.
“The fact that the number of illegal immigrants arriving in Austria is currently falling is the result of stricter Hungarian border protection”, he added.
“All those who criticise a country that is protecting Europe, and accordingly is also protecting Austria, are under a misapprehension”, the Hungarian Foreign Minister wrote.