“A new alliance has been formed between Malta and Hungary in view of the fact that the two countries have an absolutely identical viewpoint concerning the dilemmas and issues facing the European Union, and are also in agreement with relation to migration”, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó said on Wednesday in Valletta at a press conference following a meeting with Maltese Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Evarist Bartolo.

“We agree that migration must not be managed, but stopped, particularly in view of the fact that the global pandemic caused by the coronavirus has also brought with it new dangers in this respect”, the Minister said. He drew attention to the fact that until now migration has fundamentally represented a security and cultural risk, but now also presents a “phenomenal” health risk because of the appearance of the epidemic. “If new waves of migration arrive in Europe, their effect on health with relation to infection will be serious to a practically incalculable degree”, Mr. Szijjártó said.

He added that there was also agreement between himself and the Maltese Minister of Foreign and European Affairs with relation to the fact that the solution to migration is African development projects; the standard of living there must be increased in such a way that Africans remain at home. “The African countries need their young people, and the Europeans must make it clear that Europe may only be entered legally”, he declared.

“It is time to speak clearly about the role of the Soros-backed NGOs within the Mediterranean region. These organisations are continuously blackmailing the European people and forging alliances with people smuggling networks in opposition to the people of Europe, who just want to live their lives in peace and security”, the Minister continued.

He drew attention to the fact that these NGOs are continuously committing a crime when they facilitate migration, given that illegal migration is itself a crime. “It is time for Europe to put an end to the blackmail of the NGOs”, Mr. Szijjártó said.  The Minister and his negotiating partner also agreed that they will be linking the issue of migration to the spending of development and investment funding within the European Union, explaining that in his opinion certain African countries must not be allowed to receive funding while doing nothing to prevent the outflow of migration.

The Minister reminded the press that two and a half years ago the Visegrád Group (V4) countries gave 35 million dollars to the European Union towards the reinforcement of the Libyan coast guard and the purchasing of boats, but Brussels has been incapable of purchasing a single boat to this day. For this reason, the parties will now be asking the European Commission to include Malta in the procurement process. “They should finally purchase those 2-3 boats for the Libyan coast guard, with which the Libyans will be able to prevent people smugglers from bringing illegal migrants out of Libyan waters”, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade said in Valletta.

(Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade / MTI)