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Border protection is both a “national and European duty”, says minister

Gergely Gulyás said border protection was an “issue of sovereignty”, and Hungary “insists on performing that task”. He argued that Frontex could not ensure the same degree of protection, even with a larger headcount

The head of the Prime Minister’s Office has said that border protection is both a “national and European duty” and it is not only national laws but also the Schengen pact that defines this duty.

Gergely Gulyás said this position does not change the fact that Hungary and other EU member states must carry out border protection “rather than some EU authority”.

Gulyás added that border protection was an “issue of sovereignty”, and Hungary “insists on performing that task”. He argued that Frontex could not ensure the same degree of protection, even with a larger headcount.

Concerning the European Parliament’s recently adopted Sargentini Report on the rule of law in Hungary, he said it was a “witch hunt in a political disguise”. According to the government “the legal charges in the report do not exist” and the document “raises closed issues”.

The minister insists that the Hungarian government is “being attacked” by “pro-migration” forces in the EP because of the government’s migration policy.