Pressure of migration remains high at Hungary-Serbia border, says Orbán’s security advisor

Budapest, January 16 (MTI) – Figures from last year show that the pressure of migration eased from 2015 but still remained high at the Hungary-Serbia border, the prime minister’s internal security advisor said on Monday.

So far this year, 1,142 people have attempted to cross the border illegally, which is comparable to last year’s figure despite the intensive protection measures introduced against illegal border crossings further south and the extreme cold weather that hit the area at the start of this year, György Bakondi told a press conference.

Due to terrorist acts, internal security has significantly deteriorated over the past two years, but the Hungarian government’s well-timed measures have proved to be effective and Hungary’s internal security is acceptable, he said.

Hungary rejects European Union efforts to relocate migrants, facilitate migration, broaden EU powers and maintain border controls within the community, he said. Instead, the external Schengen borders should be sealed, the force of law restored during border controls and migrant hotspots established outside the EU, Bakondi said.

Last year saw an increase in migrants trying to enter Hungary by hiding on trains, he said.