“In Hungary’s opinion, migration is a ‘bad thing’, because the experience of recent years proves that, amongst others, migration also poses a major security risk”, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó said following Thursday’s meeting of EU ministers responsible for foreign trade.

He added that two points of the European development strategy that is in development are attempting to portray immigration in a good light “using stealth tactics”, in addition to which it wants to make it mandatory for every member state to share this opinion on the issue, Mr. Szijjártó added.

“Hungary will only accept the European Consensus on Development if it makes it clear and acknowledges that it is the exclusive right and sphere of competence of the member states of the European Union to decide what migration policy they wish to practice. And providing the EU does not want to make it mandatory for member states to change their views on migration and facilitate migration processes”, he declared.

The Minister explained that there is ongoing debate within the EU as to whether the economic effects of legal migration are positive or negative, with relation to which he said Hungary believes that while several countries in Europe suffer from high levels of unemployment European economic policy should focus on making use of the EU’s existing labour reserves in the interests of Europe’s economic development. “Furthermore, it is Hungary’s opinion that recent experience proves that, amongst others, migration also bears with it a major security risk”, he added.

Mr. Szijjártó explained that helping families is the solution to the demographic challenges that are having a major effect on the continent, not facilitating migration.

The Minister said that at the meeting he had made it clear that he agrees that there is a need for a joint European development strategy, which is one of the most important tools for handling the causes of migration. “However, Hungary will only support the adoption of such a strategy if it ensures that every member state can decide for itself what migration policy it wishes to practice and what it thinks about migration”, he declared.

“Hungary is not attempting to force any other member state to share its opinion on migration, and in return it expects nobody to want to force their standpoint onto Hungary, or for that standpoint to be prescribed for Hungary in a mandatory way”, Mr. Szijjártó emphasised.

(Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade/MTI)