The Hungarian government has no intention of approving the EU's mandatory relocation scheme for migrants, János Lázár, the Minister heading the Prime Minister’s Office, has said.
Brussels wants to corner Hungary on the issue of immigration, but whether with allies or without supporters, the government maintains its former position, he added.
Lázár believes that the pro-migrant forces are preparing for a breakthrough at the summit of the European Council next Friday, and two new terms have also emerged in EU documents, mandatory distribution and mandatory solidarity. In his evaluation, Germany and others will want to force a decision on these issues in the next few weeks.
The minister stressed that the government has neither the possibility, nor the intention to approve the mandatory distribution, the Cabinet’s hands are tied by the outcome of the referendum and the decisions of Parliament and the Constitutional Court, as well as by the decisions of 2,500 local governments. Hungary will also request the costs of the protection of the border amounting to some 150 billion HUF to be offset against solidarity.
Lázár argued that while the EU’s proposal is about an automatic distribution mechanism which is seen as a solution for the future as well, Hungary takes the view that migrants must not be allowed into the EU, and those who are already in must be taken out and must undergo the relevant immigration proceedings beyond the borders of the EU. As he said, there is an unbridgeable gap between these two positions.
The government reviewed the risks and opportunities in detail, and favors a voluntary mechanism instead of a mandatory distribution scheme, he said.
With reference to the position issued by the Constitutional Court last week, he highlighted that the distribution of migrants affects sovereignty in its very essence, and Hungary is therefore unable to participate in such a scheme.