Hungary spent EUR 257m on managing migration in 2015

Budapest (MTI) – The Hungarian government spent a total of 80 billion forints (EUR 257m) on managing the migration crisis last year, the prime minister’s chief domestic security advisor told a press conference on Friday.

György Bakondi said there are currently a total of 2,200 migrants in Hungary either in immigration detention or staying at community shelters.

Hungary once again saw a rise in illegal entrants during the first two months of the year, Bakondi said, adding, however, that the migrant inflow has recently decreased, with border police arresting only 40 people over the past two days.

He said that in mid-March Hungarian police officers will join their Austrian, Czech and Polish colleagues in protecting the Macedonian-Greek border.

Bakondi said that with the western Balkan countries closing their borders to illegal migrants, the only way into Europe is with a valid Schengen visa.