Hungarian government: fierce EU debate expected over migrant quotas

Budapest, November 17 (MTI) – Government office chief János Lázár has said European Union member states were likely to have a fierce debate over whether the bloc should adopt a mandatory migrant quota scheme or a more flexible one proposed by EU President Slovakia recently.

Hungary rejects the mandatory scheme proposed by European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, Lázár noted at a weekly government news conference on Thursday. At present, however, a majority of EU member states are in favour of mandatory quotas, he said.

Lázár said that Hungary’s national consultation and referendum on migrant quotas were important elements in rejecting the commission’s scheme, adding, however, that a constitutional amendment would have made Hungary’s position on the matter even bolder.

Hungary’s parliament last week failed to pass a constitutional amendment bill that would have banned the resettlement of foreign nationals in the country.

Lázár also said Hungary was prepared to review the EU’s cohesion policy, adding, however, that “attempts to put pressure” on Hungary by threatening to strip the country of cohesion funds had weakened since the US presidential election.

Hungary’s access to these funds is not based on solidarity but on economic cooperation, Lázár said, noting that Hungary had waived several of its rights upon its EU accession in 2004.