PM Orbán Criticizes EU Migration Policies Amid Rising Concerns Over Illegal Migration
BUDAPEST: Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, alongside Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, addressed the pressing issue of illegal migration into Europe, criticizing Western leaders for their handling of the situation. The leaders convened to discuss the long-standing warnings issued by Hungary, Slovakia, and Serbia concerning the consequences of uncontrolled migration, which they believe have been largely ignored by the European Union.
According to About Hungary, PM Orbán presented data highlighting the magnitude of the migration crisis since 2015. He noted that the European Union has received 8 million asylum applications and recorded 3.8 million illegal border-crossing attempts. Hungary, he emphasized, has intercepted 1 million of these attempts, underscoring the nation’s proactive stance. Despite these figures, Orbán criticized the EU’s insufficient response, pointing to the 430,000 deportation decisions made last year, of which only 84,000 were executed. He argu
ed that this inefficiency means that 80 percent of deportations remain unenforced.
PM Orbán further condemned the reaction of Western leaders, asserting that their panic leads to poor decision-making. He warned that illegal migration threatens the integrity of the Schengen zone, a cornerstone of the EU’s free movement policy. Orbán reiterated his opposition to the EU’s migration pact, labeling it fundamentally flawed due to its penalty clauses and the potential for the European Commission to impose redistribution during a crisis without consensus from member states.
Reflecting on the recent assassination attempt on Slovak Prime Minister Fico, Orbán expressed solidarity with Slovakia, highlighting the event’s impact on Hungary and the strengthened ties between the two nations. He emphasized the importance of protecting national identity and the threat that mass migration poses to the concept of home, suggesting that Hungary and Slovakia have safeguarded their citizens by resisting EU migration policies.
Orb
án concluded with an optimistic outlook on the cooperation between Hungary, Slovakia, and Serbia, particularly in energy security, noting the strategic significance of their partnerships in ensuring stable energy supplies from neighboring regions.