“The uncontrolled entry and free movement of people ’of unknown identity, who arrive with unknown intent’, and who represent a security risk in Hungary and in the EU, must be prevented”, the Chief Security Advisor to the Prime Minister said.

“The new regulation may be applied during a state of emergency caused by mass immigration. One major change is that people who submit requests for asylum will not have the right to stay in Hungary until a final ruling is made in their case”, György Bakondi explained, adding that this does not mean immigrants will be detained, because they will be free to leave their designated transit zone in the direction of Serbia at any time.

“Accommodation and care must be provided in these transit zones, in addition to which there are plans to enable judges to decide on review requests on site”, he continued. In reply to a question, Mr. Bakondi said that there are no plans to open new transit zones in addition to the two existing ones, although their accommodation capacities will be increased.

“The Act on Misdemeanours will also be amended, and accordingly people who leave their guarded accommodation without permission or who commit disorderly conduct at one of the receiving stations will be punishable by detention”, he continued.

The Chief Security Advisor also spoke about the fact that the EU has made many “strange” decisions since the beginning of the migration crisis, and several similar plans are still under debate now. As an example he mentioned the fact that the EU is allowing several Member States to perform internal border controls, yet it has not made a determined decision with regard to guarding its own external borders. He also said that although the setting up of a joint border and coast guard was good news, it has transpired that the unit’s numbers, make-up and level of equipment are insufficient for the task. Mr. Bakondi also criticised the proposed changes to visa regulations and the “systematic border control system”, according to which everyone wishing to enter or leave the EU via the Schengen border should be checked and registered.

With regard to this year’s Hungarian immigration figures, Mr. Bakondi explained that there have been 4200 attempts to illegally enter the country so far, 2300 of which were prevented at the border security fence, while 1900 people were accompanied back across the border from within the 8 kilometre border zone. The police have apprehended 176 people beyond the border zone to date. 34 out of the 752 people who have submitted requests for asylum so far this year have been afforded some kind of protection”, he told the press.

(MTI/kormany.hu)