That country is strong which is able to protect its borders, and this is also true of the systematic surveillance of the internal borders. At the same time, the reinforcement of the relations maintained with the countries of the Western Balkans is a means for preserving the stability of Europe, Szabolcs Takács, State Secretary for European Affairs at the Prime Minister’s Office told journalists after the meeting of the ministers of the Member States responsible for European affairs held in Brussels on Tuesday.

The protection of the external borders is an essential responsibility of every Member State of the European Union, and in this context, Hungary takes the view that the protection of the borders of the Member States must remain within national competence. If, however, a country is unable to protect its borders, it must seek assistance from the EU. If it fails to do so, this should result in the imposition of sanctions in some form, the State Secretary stressed.

Mr Takács told the press that an agreement was beginning to unfold regarding the unconditional protection of the external borders at the Tuesday meeting of the General Affairs Council held in Brussels, including the protection of the Schengen borders. The State Secretary added that for Hungary the protection of the Schengen zone takes priority; this is why the Friends of Schengen group was formed together with the V4 countries.

He highlighted at the same time that internal border controls extending to every Member State will be effective if the information contained in the Passenger Name Record (PNR), a system which captures the data of air passengers, can be shared.

Hungary would nonetheless leave the protection of the borders within national competence; however, the Member States which are unable to protect their borders on their own should seek and be given central assistance. If this is not the case, even the introduction of sanctions should be contemplated, the politician stressed.

Maintaining balanced and progressive relations with the countries of the Western Balkans region is particularly important for Europe also from the respect of the management of the migration crisis and stability. Mr Takács said that Hungary welcomes the development that the European Union opened two chapters of the accession process with Serbia on Monday. At the Tuesday meeting the attending politicians agreed that the accession talks with Macedonia and Montenegro, too, should be accelerated; in a case to the contrary, the migration crisis may escalate due to the lack of stability.

At the Tuesday meeting of the General Affairs Council the issue of Brexit – Britain’s potential exit from the European Union – was also discussed. In this context, Mr Takács pointed out that Hungary is in favour of the maintenance of Britain’s EU membership.

Hungary supports the reinforcement of national powers and the role of national parliaments as well as the preservation of the mechanisms of the internal market, but is sceptical about the issue related to the free flow of persons. Mr Takács took the view that EU citizens must not sustain discrimination, and consequently, there should be no scope for the selective application of one of the EU’s most important fundamental freedoms.

(Prime Minister's Office)