“Hungary wants to protect its borders, not close them”, Government Spokesperson Zoltan Kovács explained on Kossuth Radio’s “180 Minutes” programme.

With relation to contradictory statements by various European politicians, Mr. Kovács said he couldn’t understand why EU member states are arguing amongst each other about fundamental EU regulations that are absolutely definitive: the European Union’s borders must be protected.

In reply to a question, the Government Spokesperson also reported on the fact that construction of the temporary border security fence along the Hungarian-Croatian border is nearing completion and a rapid deployment razor wire fence is already in position along the Slovenian border at Tornyiszentmiklós.

“The Government agrees that the fence is not the solution for handling mass migration, but it is a means to help stop illegal immigration”, Mr. Kovács said on public telection M1, adding that “the Schengen Agreement also states that European Union member states may use all means necessary to protect their borders”.

The Government Spokesperson also spoke about the fact that Wednesday’s emergency summit of EU heads of state and government in Brussels, which lasted until well after midnight, had achieved significant results, although progress was still not made on the most important issue: reinforcing the Greek border. It is however very important to note that President of the European Council Donald Tusk also made it clear: everyone must follow EU regulations.

With reference to this, Mr. Kovács said that Croatia may not be a member of the Schengen Area, but it is a member of the European Union, and despite this it is purposefully and declaredly ignoring the regulations that apply to it.

“Everyone should comply with EU regulations just like Hungary is doing, and preferably as stringently as possible”, the Government Spokesperson said on Hungarian TV2’s morning programme.

(Prime Minister's Office)