“In contrast to what Germany’s left-wing Minister of Justice is claiming, the ruling by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) represents no obligation for Hungary to do anything”, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó told Hungarian news agency MTI on Saturday.

The Minister issued the statement in reaction to comments by Heiko Maas, according to whom if Hungary continues to insist on confrontation with read to the migration crisis, then EU funding must be withdrawn from Hungary if necessary.

“Linking the EU funding that is due to Hungary according to the treaties with illegal immigration is an underhanded thing”, the Minister said, adding that “This is particularly true in view for the fact that Western enterprises, including German companies, have profited significantly from the funding provided to Hungary”.

“And we should also not ignore the fact that it is hypocritical to call Hungary to account when EU member states have only realised 25 percent of their undertaken quotas”, Mr. Szijjártó added.

“It is an honour for Hungary to be one of the subjects of the German election campaign, but we would nevertheless like to draw the German Justice Minister’s attention to the fact that Hungary is protecting the Schengen border, and with it Germany too, out of the tax forints of Hungarian citizens”.

“It is interesting that this kind of solidarity does not raise the attention of a German Minister”, Mr. Szijjártó said in closing.

(Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade)