Action must be taken to prevent the European Commission from imposing penalties on the EU Member States which refuse to implement the decisions on the resettlement of asylum-seekers, the State Secretary responsible for government communication said on the public service television news channel M1 on Friday evening.

Bence Tuzson was asked about the fact that Dimitris Avramopoulos, the member of the European Commission responsible for the EU’s migration policy threatened the Member States which fail to implement the decisions of the European Union regarding the distribution of asylum-seekers with consequences.

The State Secretary said: „at the end of the day, this is about mandatory resettlement”, and though this seemed to be „an issue of the past”, the Commission repeatedly placed it on the agenda, and is contemplating penalties.

We must take the firmest possible action against this, Mr Tuzson stressed. Hungary contested the decision referred to by the EU Commissioner before the court, he reiterated, adding: the position of the Government is that the introduction of such a rule is not only incorrect, but also unlawful.

The State Secretary also spoke about the reinforcement of the border fence. He said that, in addition to the current fence, „an intelligent fence”, equipped with cameras and other sensor devices, will be erected which will detect when someone tries to cross the border. This will provide effective and strong protection for the country, Mr Tuzson stressed.

Dimitris Avramopoulos said on Thursday in Brussels: the regime for the relocation of asylum-seekers among the Member States is the European Union’s most important means to express solidarity, and the Member States have no possibility to raise any further objections. The Commissioner said: „If Member States do not increase their relocations soon, the Commission will not hesitate to make use of its powers under the Treaties for those who have not complied with the obligations stemming from the Council decisions”.

(MTI)