"It is extremely hypocritical and unethical” for certain western politicians to threaten to withdraw financial support while Europe is searching for a solution to one of the greatest challenges the EU has ever faced, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó told Hungarian news agency MTI on Tuesday.

Mr. Szijjártó stated that open borders in Europe is not equivalent to unlimited opportunities to cross borders illegally. “Hungary is conforming to every European Union requirement and finds it very strange that it is receiving criticism for fully adhering to the Schengen and Dublin regulations”, he stressed.

The Minister highlighted the fact that Hungary is conforming to all international regulations regarding the treatment of immigrants, “but there is no doubt that some immigrants have become aggressive as a result of misunderstood statements from the West” and are refusing to cooperate with the Hungarian authorities. Amongst others, they are refusing to stay in receiving camps, where they would receive accommodation and board in accordance with international treaties.

Mr. Szijjártó said that Hungary will continue to adhere to EU regulations and that he is adhering to his firm standpoint according to which “the European Championships of hypocrisy must be brought to an end”, and instead we require real measures, the prerequisite of which is the protection of our borders.

On Monday, German Vice-Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel called on Hungary to improve the state of the refugee system and declared that the EU financing and support system and the openness of internal Schengen borders could be endangered if EU partners do not contribute to handling the European refugee crisis. “If only a few member states bear the burdens of the refugee crisis, then no one can seriously believe that ‘everything relating to financing will continue as it has so far’, because the EU is not a community whose members only take part in its activities if they receive money for doing so, but exempt themselves from responsibility when difficulties arise”, he declared.

(Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade)