In the interest of putting an end to illegal border crossing and of registering migrants, “it was almost impossible to find any other solution” than the construction of a fence on the Hungarian-Serbian border, Justice Minister László Trócsányi said in an interview given to the French news television France24.

The Minister reiterated that Hungary must simultaneously conform to a number of European norms, while the citizens of the country expect the Government to maintain public security which is “very important in every EU Member State”. At the same time, “European citizens expect Hungary to guarantee the protection of the Schengen borders”, he pointed out.

The Minister took the view: it was necessary to erect the razor-wire fence on the Hungarian-Serbian border on a section of 175 kilometres because every day 3 to 4 thousand people crossed the green border illegally, and therefore “it was almost impossible to find any other solution”. “I know that this is not the most elegant thing, but you should be aware that these (border fences) also exist in other countries”, Mr Trócsányi stressed. He mentioned Spain, Bulgaria and Greece as examples. “It was essential, but I sincerely hope that it will not stay there forever”, he added.

The Minister highlighted that, with the implementation of the border closure, Hungary’s primary goal was to register every migrant, and Hungary is the only country which has registered over 200,000 people. Regarding the criticisms concerning the treatment of migrants, Mr Trócsányi reiterated that the hundreds of thousands of Hungarians who arrived in Austria in just a few weeks in 1956 patiently awaited the decision in refugee camps as to which country will take them in. “They cooperated with the state agencies. However, what is happening now is that people arriving from different countries – who may well be in a very difficult situation – refused to cooperate with the Hungarian authorities”, the Minister said.

Mr Trócsányi mentioned that the migrants avoided the transit zones, and wanted to reach Germany at any cost. He indicated that he is “ready to engage in a legal debate also on a European level” regarding the legislative amendments which contemplate sanctions for the event of illegal border-crossing.

In answer to the question as to why the positions of the Hungarian and German Governments – which form part of one and the same party family – diverge on the migrant crisis, the Minister said: “We have an external EU border, Angela Merkel has no external EU border”.

He further pointed out that the Schengen Borders Code and the Geneva Convention authorise the introduction of sanctions against persons who enter a country irregularly, unless their lives are in danger. “However, the lives of migrants are not in danger in Serbia which is a democratic country, and is engaged in (accession) talks with the European Union”, he stressed.

The Minister also confirmed that Hungary “fully observes the international conventions”. “As a lawyer, I am responsible for what is lawful. In the light of the (international) conventions, I am personally convinced that we had the right (to pass the legislative amendments). But I am ready to engage in a debate”, he added.

Mr Trócsányi refused the assumption that the Government is pursuing an anti-migration policy due to the growing popularity of Jobbik. He remarked that Jobbik usually does not vote for the bills presented by the Government in Parliament. The Minister pointed out that the Hungarian Government always fully observes the international norms, and wishes to remain a member of the European Union under any circumstances, despite the emergence of disputes between the Member States from time to time.

(Ministry of Justice/MTI)