The Visegrád countries have set an example of cooperation in the management of illegal immigration, the Interior Minister said at the Rapid Response Police Unit.

Sándor Pintér, who welcomed the fifty Czech police personnel who arrived in Hungary to protect the borders, said: a country on its own finds it hard to bear the burdens of illegal immigration, and there is therefore a need for cooperation.

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He pointed out: more than 390,000 people have crossed the Hungarian border illegally since 1 January.

A mass migration has started towards Europe, and the flood of people constituting the masses pays no attention to the borders of the European Union and the Schengen regulations. They wish to reach their destination by disregarding the laws of the European Union, illegally, Mr Pintér stressed, who takes the view that refugees fleeing war conflicts are mixed with young people setting out in the hope of a better life, those in need of protection with mere adventurers.

Hungary has decided: it will enforce the laws of the European Union, and will comply and will maintain compliance with the Schengen directives, he pointed out. The Minister added: accordingly, the green borders will be protected, and the country may only be entered via the designated border crossing stations, under the applicable conditions.

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As he said, the leaders of the Visegrád countries agreed with this decision, and therefore set up a temporary joint police unit for the protection of the green borders. Mr Pintér drew attention to the fact that not only the leaders of the Visegrád countries recognised the need for united action; last week Slovenia requested support from the European Union in the interest of the protection of the Schengen external borders.

The Visegrád countries have heard this request, and Slovakia has already sent police personnel to Slovenia. Hungary, too, will send a police contingency of more than 50 to protect the external borders, he added.

Mr Pintér told the Czech police: during the course of the implementation of their mission, they are equally protecting the Czech Republic, Hungary and the European Union. He told the Hungarian commanders: they should welcome the members of the Czech police as guests, but should look upon them as well-prepared colleagues. The Czechs are contributing to the protection of the borders with 50 police personnel and 14 vehicles.

(Ministry of Interior)