The purpose of the reinforcement of the legal border closure is to close the loopholes which previously enabled anyone to stay in the territory of Hungary illegally, the Prime Minister’s senior advisor for internal security stated at his press conference.
György Bakondi stressed: with this measure, we are protecting not only Hungary’s borders, but also those of the European Union, in order to prevent the recurrence of acts of terrorism such as those we have experienced in recent months. He remarked: also at present, hundreds of thousands of people are residing in the territory of the EU illegally and without identification.
Upon outlining the elements of the legislation that entered into force as of Tuesday, the senior advisor said: no one may enter Hungary illegally. According to the provisions of the legislation, migrants arriving from the direction of Serbia are required to await the assessment of their asylum applications on a final and absolute basis in the transit zone, and illegal border-crossers will be transported to the transit zone not only from within 8 kilometres of the border, but from the entire territory of the country.
Simultaneously, the 67 migrants who are currently staying in the three open camps will also be taken to the transit zones, and these camps will be closed down.
Young people between the ages of 14 and 18 years, too, will be required to await the assessment of their asylum applications in the transit zones, while unaccompanied children under the age of 14 years will be transferred to child protection institutions.
To this end, the transit zones have been enlarged, in Röszke and Tompa there is accommodation for 100 persons in 324 shipping container homes. They will be provided with housing, medical and social care, three meals a day and the use of telecommunication equipment, Mr Bakondi listed.
The transit zones are open towards Serbia. However, those who seek to leave them in the direction of Hungary commit a breach, the Prime Minister’s senior advisor for internal security added.
He also said: they expected attacks on Hungary due to the measure. However, the Government takes the view that the guarding of the borders is the key to internal security. At the same time, they also expect to see an increase in the popularity of the policy that seeks to protect the external borders, and an extended refugee crisis.
In answer to a question, Mr Bakondi said that he was clearly baffled by the fact that the Strasbourg court of human rights prevented the transportation of 8 teenagers and a pregnant woman to the transit zone, given that no decision of any kind has been adopted regarding their case. In other words, „they do not know what not to implement”. At the same time, the court’s ruling is not a judgement, but a temporary measure, he remarked.
In answer to another question, Mr Bakondi also said that the Interior and Justice Ministers met with Dimitris Avramopoulos, EU Commissioner for Migration. During the course of the talks, they agreed that the security of the external borders must be improved, and this in turn requires comprehensive global measures, he said.
Mr Bakondi stressed: the Hungarian Government is ready for a dialogue with any competent EU official in order to stop the recurrence of violent acts such as those we have recently experienced.
The senior advisor told the press that, according to plans, the second fence will be completed on the southern border section by the end of May. 7,295 persons have attempted to cross the border illegally in Hungary, he said.
(MTI, kormany.hu)
