György Bakondi, Chief Security Advisor to the Prime Minister, has told Hungarian television channel M1 that the mass of migrants gathering in Serbia continues to pose a huge challenge, and therefore the Hungarian-Serbian border has to be further protected with significant forces.

Mr. Bakondi said that every day 100–150 people are arriving illegally in Serbia – partly from the direction of Serbia and Macedonia, and occasionally from Kosovo or Albania.

Reception centres are full and those arriving do not wish to stay in Serbia, but they cannot continue further either. Therefore the number of violent and criminal offences is on the rise, he added.

The Chief Security Advisor said that from the beginning of the mass migration wave, in international forums Hungary has continually stressed that unscreened entry of people to the European Union presents serious public and national security risks.

He pointed out that Hungary supports every step which would restore protection of the Schengen Area’s external borders, as required by EU law. This also includes the establishment of a common agency for border and coast protection.

Mr. Bakondi added that every day 6,000–8,000 people are attempting to enter Europe from Africa. He added that it continues to be Hungary’s position that, in order to stop mass migration, migrants’ countries of origin and their neighbouring countries should be supported, and the living conditions of people there should be improved.

(Cabinet Office of the Prime Minister/MTI)