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Foreign minister: Hungary’s stance on immigration policy reason for LIBE hearing
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Had the Hungarian government not adopted its policy on immigration, Thursday’s hearing by the European Parliament’s committee on civil liberties, justice and home affairs (LIBE) would not have taken place, Péter Szijjártó, the foreign minister, told public radio in an interview on Sunday.
The minister said over the past 18 months it had become clear that the political elite in western Europe and the people had begun to diverge.
Szijjártó insisted that
people in western Europe had “encouraged us”, saying “if only their governments would do the same; and finally someone has recognised the dangers inherent in illegal migration”.
“So it was hardly surprising that at the hearing, against all expectations, many more spoke with Hungary than those who spoke against it, and it is not at all surprising that our accusers and condemners were unable to raise a single concrete instance,” he said.
The hearing was “part of the same witch hunt” which has been held against Hungary “for the fourth time in short order”, he said.
The minister said
there was no reason why Hungary should be brought before any EP committee concerning the rule of law.
“There is nothing to be ashamed of, and nothing outstanding has happened in Hungary to distinguish it from other European Union member states,” Szijjártó said, adding that the country is in mid-field in terms of the number of infringement proceedings.