Orban presser: Debate reinforce hopes immigration issue can be settled

Strasbourg, May 19 (MTI) – Even though the debate in the European Parliament on Tuesday was formally about Hungary, big questions facing Europe such as immigration were successfully addressed, Viktor Orban, Hungary’s prime minister, told a press conference.

“A debate within the EU on immigration began which further reinforces hope of success,” Orban said.

The prime minister said that the new European Commission proposal on migration rules would only encourage immigration to the bloc. He said it was a policy mistake which could prove to be ruinous for the continent.

Orban said the debate so far had mixed up the issues of refugees, economic migrants and guest workers. But these should be dealt with separately, and separate rules should be worked out for each issue, he added. The dimensions of human rights, the economy, demography and culture should be handled on equal terms, the prime minister said.

Orban said the problem would be settled if Hungary were once again allowed to decide how to regulate immigration. The prime minister noted that in 2012 the EU had forbidden Hungary from taking illegal immigrants into custody if they claimed to be refugees.