Hungarian government: No reduction in migration pressure expected

“We see no reason that would result in a reduction in migration pressure in the near future”, György Bakondi Chief Security Advisor to the Prime Minister said at a press conference in Budapest.

“According to the decision made by the European Union’s border protection agency Frontex in mid-October in Warsaw, which Hungary did not vote in favour of, only five hundred of the 1500-strong EU border and coast guard will actually be performing border protection duties”, Mr. Bakondi noted.

This shows that the priority “is not protection, but the registration and interviewing of people who arrive, and participation in their redirection if a decision is made”, just as the planned number of ships will also only be capable of rescuing people who arrive by sea”, he added.

The Hungarian Government’s standpoint continues to be that the external borders of the European Union must be protected, EU regulations must be enforced and “we must put a stop to the state of affairs that has led to millions of people of unknown identity having crossed the border and entered the territory of the European Union without any kind of control”, he explained.

“The internal security of the EU and its member states cannot be achieved without suitably rigid border controls”, he stressed.

“Hungary has a vested interest in returning to the Schengen system, bot following the last session of the Council of the European Union it is clear that this will not occur by the 15 November deadline”, he stated.