Hungary is to take a decided stance in order to change the European Union’s present immigration policy because the uncontrolled and unregulated form of migration is claiming lives on the continent and subjects EU citizens to immediate threat, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said in Budapest on Friday after meeting his Macedonian counterpart Nikola Gruevski.
At a joint press conference, the Hungarian leader pointed out the necessity to acknowledge that migrants are arriving to Europe from areas where member states are waging military conflict and “we are consequently seen as an enemy in these countries”, leading to terrorist attacks on European soil being perceived as military successes, the state news agency MTI reports.
At his meeting with his Macedonian colleague, the Prime Minister said that both EU member states and prospective members need to have the ability to protect their borders and assured Mr. Gruevski that Hungary will provide all necessary forms of assistance for border protection. Hungary has commissioned Sándor Pintér, the interior minister, to keep contact with the region on the issue of border protection, he said.
The Prime Minister also confirmed Hungary’s support for Macedonia’s bid to join the European Union and NATO, which he described as also being in the European interest despite disputes blocking the process, he said in reference to the conflict between Greece and Macedonia. Mr. Orbán branded Macedonia a country adequately prepared for EU membership and pointed out that in Budapest’s opinion, each applicant should be judged by merit.
via hirado.hu
photos: MTI