“Brussels has in effect confessed”, State Secretary for International Communications and Relations Zoltán Kovács said, commenting on the European Commission’s reaction to the Government’s information campaign on migration.

“In its official opinion, Brussels has admitted that the ideas presented by the Government exist, and it has admitted that these plans would increase immigration into Europe, and accordingly are dangerous according to the Cabinet”, he said at a press conference in Budapest.

“The European Commission has confirmed that there exists a legislative bill for the mandatory distribution of immigrants, and they are also continuing to call for resettlements from outside the EU within a uniform EU framework”, the State Secretary explained.

“The Brussels body also admits to the fact that immigrants in Greece, for instance, are receiving debit cards, on which they have spent over 110 million euros to date”, he continued.

“The Commission has also ‘confessed’ to wanting to reinforce a border protection system directed from Brussels”, Mr. Kovács said, reminding the press of German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s previous statements, according to which this can only be achieved through reducing member state sovereignty. “They have also admitted to the fact that the European Parliament (EP) has adopted the proposal on migrant visas, the so-called humanitarian visas, and this is to all intents and purposes preparation for it also being supported by the Commission”, he added.

Finally, the State Secretary also noted that although the European Commission does not mention it in its official opinion, at the initiative of the EP they plan to give non-governmental organisations 570 billion forints (EUR 1.8bn) in additional funding during the next multiannual financial framework.

“The Cabinet is determined to inform every Hungarian about what Brussels is preparing to do, and for this reason Prime Minister Viktor Orbán will be sending a letter to all voters”, he told the press. “Hungary’s government cannot be dissuaded from telling people about the plans that it does not agree with, meaning we do not want the Brussels bureaucrats to turn Hungary into an immigrant country, and Europe into an immigrant continent”, he stated.

In reply to a question, Mr. Kovács spoke about the fact that the European Commission should not enforce pro-immigration perspectives that bear no consensus during the course of preparative work, but should instead implement what the European Council decides upon.

With relation to the strike planned for 14 March by the Trade Union of Hungarian Civil Servants, Public Employees and Public Service Workers, also in reply to a question, the State Secretary said: “The Government is sad to see that certain trade unions have become involved in the EP election campaign”. Mr. Kovács said he felt this was a mistaken role. In addition, he also highlighted the fact that in recent years the Government has launched career and pay increase programmes that show appreciation for people working in civil service.

With relation to the fact that the Párbeszéd party is calling for a legislative amendment in the interests of making public the OLAF report on the Elios affair, Mr. Kovács said: “There is no new information in the Elios affair; the initiative is just a political manoeuvre”.

(MTI)