The Hungarian government’s response evidently annoys the European Commission as the cabinet has done nothing other than expose Brussels’ pro-immigration plans, the Hungarian government spokesperson said commenting on the Monday statement of the spokesperson for the European Commission.

István Hollik recalled that the Hungarian cabinet had sent its response related to the Brussels plans to the Commission. In this they accurately and factually listed, he said, the most important decisions that have been adopted within the EU to date with respect to Brussels plans to promote migration.

The government takes the view that the Hungarian people have the right to know what Brussels is preparing for as Europe’s future is at stake, Mr Hollik stated. The cabinet has done nothing other than collect together Brussels’ pro-immigration plans and publish them in an eight-page document, he added.

The government spokesperson was asked why President of the Commission Jean-Claude Juncker had been placed in the focus of the campaign. Mr Hollik said in reply that facts show that Mr Juncker is one of the most powerful politicians in Brussels who support immigration. He himself said so, Mr Hollik recalled, and referred to statements made by the President of the Commission in which he spoke about creating legal migration pathways, and claimed that national borders are dated institutions which must be dismantled.

According to the Hungarian government, it is highly hypocritical and duplicitous that while Hungary – honouring its Schengen obligations – also protects the borders of the EU, not only its own, politicians from the European People’s Party are allowed to criticise Hungary and are allowed to say things like that the fence is a bad thing, he said. The government’s tone is very restrained compared with what Hungary has been compelled to put up with, he said. He added that now when the Hungarian government is criticising the very politician whose term in office saw the most critical five years in the history of the European Commission, we are told we are not allowed to do the same. This is a typical example of double standards which have been applied to Hungary within the EU for a very long time, and which we cannot accept, Mr Hollik stated.

In answer to another question, the government spokesperson pointed out that the Hungarian government regards every measure which relays the message to immigrants that Europe will support them and finance them as dangerous.

People in Brussels are making attempts to explain that the migrant bank cards are not anonymous, when they evidently are, he said. The position of the Hungarian government has been unchanged for three years: help must be taken where there is trouble, rather than bringing trouble to Europe. This is why we need programmes such as Hungary Helps which is about how to help people on the ground. The programme has also attracted international attention as it is much more effective than the aid projects of international organisations. This is what we need, not migrant bank cards, Mr Hollik said.

(Cabinet Office of the Prime Minister/MTI)