Government Rejects EU Migration Pact: No Mandated Admission of Asylum Seekers
EU Reaches Political Agreement on New Migration Pact, Hungary Rejects Measures
Negotiating delegations from Member States, the European Parliament and the European Commission have reached a political agreement on the elements of the new migration pact. However, Hungary has firmly rejected the pact, citing its disapproval of the proposed measures.
Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó expressed Hungary’s rejection of the migration and asylum pact during a press conference in Budapest. He stated, “Hungary rejects in the strongest possible terms the migration and asylum pact.”
One of the key elements of the new migration pact highlighted by an M1 news correspondent in Brussels pertains to the procedure at the external borders. This element aims to identify real refugees from illegal migrants and prevent the latter from entering the EU.
Another important element involves the EU’s plan to distribute at least 30,000 refugees annually between Member States. Those not complying with the distribution plan will face financial penalties. This particular element was vehemently rejected by Hungary.
When asked whether Hungary would accept asylum seekers under the migration pact’s “crisis regulation” or opt to pay EUR 20,000 per person, Szijjártó emphasized that Hungary would not be forced to let anyone in. He reiterated that Hungary rejects the migration pact and will resist letting anyone in against its will.
Csaba Dömötör, Parliamentary State Secretary of the Prime Minister’s Office, also expressed the government’s opposition to the migration pact, stating that the agreement is contrary to Hungary’s stance on migration.
In a video on his Facebook page, Dömötör criticized the details of the pact, including the imposition of a distribution quota, which determines the number of migrants each Member State must accept. He expressed concern that, in a crisis situation, the numbers can be exceeded, leading to an unlimited number of people being admitted.
The migration and asylum pact still requires formal approval by the plenary of the European Parliament and the council of Member State governments.
In conclusion, the recent political agreement on the new migration pact and Hungary’s steadfast rejection of the proposed measures have intensified the debate on EU migration policy. The country’s strong stance highlights the challenges of reaching a consensus on this critical issue.
