On Thursday György Bakondi, Chief Security Advisor to the Prime Minister, told public television channel M1 that although the migration situation in Europe has changed in a number of ways, its intensity has not decreased. He pointed out that the events in Greece and the fact that authorities have started clearing the refugee camp in Idomeni have resulted in migrants setting off towards Serbia, and then to the Hungarian border, instead of going to other reception centres in Greece.
Mr. Bakondi said that due to these developments, in order to complement existing border protection measures the construction of a border protection fence will also start soon at those sections where until now – due to the difficult terrain – there has only been a rapidly installed razor-wire barrier.
The Chief Security Advisor noted that the focus in various EU forums is still on reception and integration of migrants. Two important issues are not given sufficient consideration, however, he explained: strengthening external border protection; and the screening and supervision of illegal mass migration at the EU’s external borders. Mr. Bakondi said that another topic which is being neglected by the EU is repatriation: finding ways of returning migrants to their home countries.