Hungary is cooperating with Italy when it comes to border protection and the expulsion of illegal immigrants, but cannot be a partner to the resettlement quotas of migrants, according to György Bakondi. The Chief Security Advisor to the Prime Minister gave a statement to Hungarian news agency MTI at the Roman Senate during a conference on stopping human trafficking at the Mediterranean Sea on Wednesday, referring to the fact that the Malta agreement, which calls for the distribution of migrants rescued at sea in Europe, raises serious security questions.

Mr. Bakondi highlighted that from a Hungarian, political and national security standpoint, it is of utmost importance that Italy be able to guarantee the safety of its seas and shores.

“We will provide all possible help to our Italian partners in the fulfilment of border control obligations; we will cooperate, and Hungary and Italy are already cooperating, when it comes to supporting source countries and transportation home people who are residing in Europe illegally. There is only one thing we are not open to: distribution according to voluntary or obligatory quotas. We cannot be partners to this”, Mr. Bakondi highlighted.

Commenting the Malta agreement, which calls for the distribution of migrants taken on board at sea, the Chief Security Advisor pointed out that if countries were to follow it, migrants would be immediately distributed and transported to various member states without the conduction of asylum procedures in the country of arrival. According to Mr. Bakondi, this attitude “does not seem realistic” and raises major security questions due to the  fact that according to experience to date it is already difficult to realise the expulsion and transportation home of illegal immigrants.

“It is very difficult, and sometimes impossible, to repatriate people who have already entered Europe”, he stated, adding: “Maintaining security is a common European interest”.

The Chief Security Advisor to the Prime Minister spoke at the political and defence conference held in the upper house of Roman Parliament. The conference, entitled “No to People Smuggling on the Mediterranean Sea” was organized by the right-wing Liga (League party), but politicians from other parties as well as international lawyers and security experts also took part.

League politician Nicola Molteni highlighted that the migrants, who are for the most part economic migrants, fall doubly prey to human trafficking criminal organizations: first, when they pay to cross the sea, and later, when instead of the promised future and work, they fall victim to crime and prostitution networks.

“They pay four to five thousand euros to end up under a bridge in Rome”, said League MEP Simona Baldassare. She called the Malta agreement “a huge con” and “a gift to the NGO boats”, which in her opinion will only serve to increase the number of people arriving in Italy. It was stated at the conference that until the formation of new Italian government in early September, 22 migrants-a-day arrive in Italy, but since then, the number has risen to 75.

(MTI)