“The UN’s migration package is an unbalanced and dangerous document because it further inspires the processes that have posed many dangers to Europe in recent years”, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó declared in a statement to Hungarian reporters in the recess of a one-day meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels.

Prior to the ministerial meeting on the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), the Minister declared that every single document and every single decision issued  by international organisations that generates migration processes is at odds with Europe’s security interests.

As he explained, the possibility was raised that, similarly to the American decision, Hungary should exit the process during the negotiation phase, but instead the decision was made to remain to enable the putting forward of proposals. “During the course of the negotiations it became clear that the majority Latin American and African states, many of which are among the source countries of migration, have such a major influence on the drawing up of the document that all suggestions or amendment proposals are in vain, and for this reason my recommendation to the Cabinet will be that Hungary should not take part in the document’s adoption phase”, he underlined.

“Cooperation with the countries of Latin America is good within most fields and also in the UN, but we do not agree on the fundamental perception of migration issues”, he added.

“Hungary is happy to be involved if the negotiations concern how we can keep illegal immigrants out of the European Union, or how they might be sent home”, he said.

The Minister highlighted that Hungary continues to regard the fact that the EU should reduce migration pressure on Europe from the direction of Libya as a key issue. “In the interests of achieving this, Libya’s southern border must be protected so people smuggling networks can’t use the country as an “open house”, in addition to which in the north migrants must be prevented from boarding boats in their masses and undertaking the dangerous sea crossing”, he stressed.

With relation to this he noted that Hungary regards it as an important, new development that Russia has made it clear: boats financed by non-governmental organisations and “loaded will illegal immigrants” cannot use the country’s ports. He also pointed out that the countries of the Visegrád Group (V4) have offered 35 million euros in funding to facilitate the protection of Libya’s southern border.

Mr. Szijjártó also highlighted the fact that it has been confirmed: Ukraine has grossly violated one of the most closely guarded European values, the law on the protection of minorities.

“Ukraine is ignoring its international commitments, NATO’s membership action plan and its association agreement with the European Union, and accordingly it is unacceptable to Hungary that despite this Kiev is expecting to be able to move forward regardless on its path towards European integration”, he declared.

Hungary regards it as ridiculous that the Ukrainian Government was not even capable of getting Ukrainian Parliament to vote on the issue within the space of eight months, when of course this did not pose a problem when the Act was adopted. “Based on the above, it is difficult to assess whether Ukraine’s European integration aspirations can be taken seriously”, he underlined.

“Hungary confirms its position according to which it cannot support the continuation of Ukraine’s European or Euro-Atlantic integration processes until it amends its Education Act to conform to EU expectations”, he added.

(Cabinet Office of the Prime Minister/MTI)