The Government will initiate further restrictions to protect the borders. Károly Kontrát said at a press conference held on Friday: the Ministry has submitted a bill to Parliament with a view to reinforcing the legal protection of the state borders.
The Minister of State of the Ministry of Interior said: the purpose of the bill is to ensure that not a single migrant should be able to stay in the territory of Hungary illegally. The proposed changes would guarantee that those who are apprehended by the police within 8 kilometres of the state border and did not enter the country through the commission of a criminal offence are taken to a transit zone where they will have the possibility to submit their asylum applications. In their case, prompt decisions may be adopted, and the special regulations of proceedings conducted at the border will apply to them. They will not be expelled from the country due to unlawful stay, the Minister of State stressed.
He further told the press that 99 per cent of migrants are apprehended within a zone of 8 kilometres, and based on practical experiences, this range is sufficient to stop them. Parliament will start debating the bill on 17 May as expected. The proposed bill would amend the laws on the state borders, asylum, and the entry and residence of third-country nationals.
The Minister of State described the bill as significant from the respect of the security of the Hungarian people and the protection of the Schengen borders. He reiterated: the Government has recently allocated HUF 9.3 billion for the purpose of reinforcing the physical protection of the southern border.
Government Spokesperson Zoltán Kovács stressed that the pressure of illegal migration continues to weigh heavily upon Europe. More than 10 thousand illegal border-crossers have been apprehended this year, and the number of asylum applications is even higher, he pointed out. He added at the same time: on the Greek border and all European borders concerned civil-society „organisations calling themselves human rights activists” are assisting the entry of illegal migrants into Europe.
He further reiterated: the Hungarian Government is doing everything within its power to prevent the abuse of the available legal system. In answer to a question regarding the incident in Körmend, the Government Spokesperson said: the police are conducting a very thorough investigation into the incident as, based on the preliminary findings, there were contradictory claims and statements. At the same time, he stated: there is an atmosphere of anxiety in the town, and it is the duty of the police to alleviate this. Mr Kontrát added: they are providing HUF 24 million for the installation and extension of a camera surveillance system.