The European Union itself has recognised that most of the pressure that is currently weighing on Europe due to illegal migration affects Hungary. Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó had a meeting with Dimitris Avramopoulos, Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship.
The Minister stated at the press conference held jointly with the Commissioner on Tuesday in Budapest: this situation cannot be swiftly resolved. The question of illegal migration will with great probability determine EU policies for years, and therefore long-term solutions are required. It is finally unfolding that the EU itself takes the position that a common European solution must be found in answer to the problem, the Minister pointed out.
Mr Szijjártó stressed: there is unparalleled pressure on Hungary, but the country is meeting all its obligations arising from its EU membership, and is resorting to „all deployable capacity” in order to register every illegal migrant as required under EU legislation.
The Minister believes that the Commissioner’s visit demonstrates beyond doubt that Hungary is no longer alone when it is under „incredible pressure from illegal migration”. Migration routes are changing continuously, and at present, more people are coming to the EU via the Western Balkans than via the Mediterranean, he said. The Minister told the press: 567 persons arrived in Hungary by 9.15 a.m. on Tuesday, and the number of illegal migrants will most certainly exceed a thousand by the end of the day.
The Minister reiterated: 67,082 illegal migrants have come to Hungary this year, and more than 66,000 of them arrived via the Hungarian-Serbian border. Therefore, Minister of Interior Sándor Pintér will have a meeting during the course of the day with his Serbian and Austrian counterparts to discuss details of the reinforced protection of the Serbian-Macedonian and Serbian-Hungarian borders.
Mr Szijjártó said: illegal migrants also impose a major burden on the budget of Hungary. Extra expenditures amounting to HUF 15.8 billion will be required this year for the management of the situation.
The Minister pointed out: Hungary disputes that the more than 15,000 illegal migrants whom 11 EU Member States would return to Hungary should indeed be returned to Hungary as presumably they did not first enter the territory of the EU here but in Greece, Bulgaria or Croatia if they came via the Western Balkans.
In the context of the temporary fence to be erected on the Hungarian-Serbian border, the Minister confirmed: given the ferocity of the pressure Hungary is under, it is necessary to create a physical obstacle at the border. This is required on account of the illegal border-crossers, and it will not hinder anyone who wishes to enter the country lawfully.
Mr Szijjártó highlighted: many people abuse the opportunities afforded by asylum, and they discredit the applications of those who would be eligible for protection. Only 8 to 9 applications out of a hundred are actually eligible. The current situation can be resolved outside the EU in the long run, and the availability of EU development funds should be tied to conditions, the Minister said.
The Minister thanked the EU Commissioner for supporting the plan for a conference on migration to be held in Budapest this autumn; as expected, the event would be attended by EU ministers of foreign and home affairs.
EU Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos, who paid a visit to the Hungarian capital in order to have talks about the European migration strategy and the migration situation concerning Hungary, stressed at the press conference: the European Commission supports Hungary. Hungary is no longer on its own: Europe stands by and cooperates with Hungary in order to resolve the difficult situation posed by illegal migration in the spirit of solidarity.
The Commissioner said that mostly Italy and Greece have been the topic of conversation in the context of illegal migration to date; however, Hungary, too, is now receiving more attention. Migrants mostly came here from Kosovo before, while most of them now come from Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria. He stressed: it is clear that those who are eligible for protection must be granted asylum, but those who come here illegally and want to abuse the system must be sent back. The Commissioner also made mention of the significance of the fight against human traffickers as – Mr Avramopoulos remarked – the activities of the networks of traffickers are often better-organised than those of states.
The Commissioner, who had talks with Péter Szijjártó and Sándor Pintér, pointed out: the EU will deploy liaison officers who will assist with the identification and registration of asylum-seekers and the assessment of their applications. He also stated that Hungary will receive some EUR 8 million (HUF 2.5 billion) as aid for the purpose.
Mr Avramopoulos said: as to how the Member States wish to protect their borders, and those of the EU, falls within their respective competence. Greece and Bulgaria, too, built fences, and Member States cannot be deprived of the right to form their own policies regarding the protection of their borders, the Commissioner said.
Dimitris Avramopoulos told the press: the fact that more than 40,000 people will be relocated from Italy and Greece to other Member States proves that solidarity is not just an empty slogan and that the EU supports the primary target countries such as Hungary. The key to tackling the problem lies in cooperation in the spirit of solidarity; this is how the current situation can be resolved with a view to European interests as well as humanitarian and democratic values, and we can rise to the challenge in the interest of Hungary and the EU, he said.
In answer to a question, Mr Szijjártó also mentioned that the situation in Greece is being continuously monitored and analysed. There will be no change in the country’s security status, but Hungarian tourists planning to go to Greece are requested to take account of the financial situation of Greece and the decisions of commercial banks in Greece, and to take sufficient cash with them.