In contrast to a promise made eighteen months ago, Brussels has still not contributed a penny to Hungary’s border protection efforts, while it generously sponsors “Soros organisations” which support immigration, the government spokesperson said on Saturday at a press conference held in Budapest.

István Hollik recalled that in the autumn of 2017 the Hungarian Prime Minister asked Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the European Commission in a letter to make a 50 per cent contribution to the costs of Hungary’s border protection efforts incurred up to that point in time as Hungary protects not only its own borders, but also the external borders of the European Union.

At the time of the submission of his request, Hungary’s border defence expenditures amounted to more than HUF 270 billion, and this amount has since risen, he added.

The government spokesperson said that, after lengthy correspondence, Brussels first approved one third of the Hungarian costs, and promised to reimburse them. It later revoked this pledge and only recognised some one tenth of the costs, but has not paid a penny to this day.

The Brussels Commission “has been playing for time, seeking ever further excuses” for almost two years now, and its goal is to ensure that this sum is not paid to Hungary, said Mr Hollik.

He highlighted that the Hungarian government would like to achieve the reimbursement of Hungary’s border protection expenditures with reference to European solidarity which Brussels politicians continually talk about.

Mr Hollik also said that meanwhile “Brussels rather generously sponsors Soros organisations which support, encourage and facilitate migration”. “It seems that the almost forty visits paid by Soros organisations to various leaders and commissioners of the European Commission have not been in vain,” he said.

The government spokesperson further recalled that the European Parliament (EP) adopted a decision in January this year, on the basis of which “in the next seven years they would triple the grants of Soros organisations, and so they would be able to bring even more migrants into Europe”. “We find this unacceptable,” he stated, adding that Brussels’ legitimacy “rests on rather weak foundations”, and therefore they should not directly support non-governmental organisations as the nation states are perfectly capable of doing that.

He stressed that in the spirit of European solidarity the Hungarian cabinet expects Brussels to reimburse Hungary’s border protection expenditures which Brussels itself recognised.

In answer to questions, Mr Hollik said pro-immigration politicians would boost Hungary’s population with the importation of immigrants, rather than with family policy measures. The Hungarian government is doing everything it can to strengthen families in order to ensure that having children does not lead to poverty, he said.

“A Nazi member of Jobbik has resigned, only for his seat to be taken by another,” the government spokesperson said in answer to a question relating to statements made earlier by János Bencsik who has recently taken over the seat of István Szávay of Jobbik in Parliament. “For Jobbik there is no obstacle, they are capable of anything when it comes to power and money”, he said, observing that if Jobbik were a consistent party, in addition to János Bencsik, Márton Gyöngyösi should also have been expelled a long time ago.

Mr Hollik said in answer to another question that this is not the first time that pro-immigration forces in Europe are shocked by the government’s factually supported information campaign. He pointed out that they are ready to discuss the situation within the European People’s Party (EPP). At the same time, they sincerely hope that they will be able to restore the Christian democratic line in the EPP against the liberal wing at the upcoming EP elections.

It is not the first time that Jean-Claude Juncker seeks to have Fidesz expelled from the EPP. Already five years ago, the government party believed that he was unfit for the office he holds and events have proved them right, he said, observing that this is also testified to by the fact that the past five years have been the most unsuccessful period in the history of the EU.

(MTI)