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Manfred Weber Makes a Border Fence U-turn

Mariann Őry 2023.02.02.
Weber

After a series of criticisms concerning Hungary’s migration policy, Manfred Weber, leader of the European People’s Party, now argues that the EU should indeed finance border fences.

MEPs discussed the migratory challenges facing Europe, ahead of next week’s extraordinary European Council meeting in Stockholm. Manfred Weber, the group leader and president of the European People’s Party, said that

with more than 300,000 illegal border crossings, we must first re-establish control of our external borders. We believe the Commission should also financially support building fences in exceptional cases.”

This is all the more unexpected as the Hungarian government has been asking the European Commission for years to reimburse the cost of its southern border fence, and the Commission has always replied that the European Union will not finance barriers, according to Index.hu.

Manfred Weber Sees No Contradiction in His Assessment of the Migrant Crisis
Manfred Weber Sees No Contradiction in His Assessment of the Migrant Crisis

The EPP head is jubilant about the bloc's performance despite abandonment of its Christian Democratic roots.Continue reading

In December, Weber accused Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán of opening the border to illegal migrants. Fidesz MEP Balázs Hidvéghi reacted that the Bavarian politician “has completely lost touch with reality.”

Featured photo via the European Parliament


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