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News in Brief

Coronavirus Update: Controls at at all Schengen internal borders have now been abolished

Jun 09, 2020

Róbert Kiss, Lieutenant Colonel of the Hungarian Police Force, announced today that controls at all Schengen internal borders have now been abolished.

Blog

Operational Group: All Schengen borders are open

Jun 09, 2020 - Zoltán Kovács

Border control at all Schengen internal borders has been abolished. Meanwhile, the decision on the resumption of normal healthcare will be made later today.

News in Brief

Interior Minister: Protecting Schengen borders is crucial to stopping illegal migration to Europe

Nov 22, 2019

Sándor Pintér said that although Hungary is capable of protecting its own Schengen border for the time being, it is happy to accept help from its Visegrad partners.

Blog

PM Orbán on Matteo Salvini: His success in stopping illegal immigration is in our interest

May 02, 2019 - Zoltán Kovács

“Departing for Hungary to build a new Europe,” Matteo Salvini, minister of interior and deputy prime minister of Italy, tweeted this morning.

Blog

Take the issue of migration away from the European Commission, says Prime Minister Orbán

Mar 11, 2019 - Zoltán Kovács

The prime minister has called for setting up a new European council of ministers of interior to take responsibility for migration and Schengen Area issues, a strong body that would handle these matters as experts, rather than politicians.

News in Brief

Hungary fulfils its Schengen commitments, protecting not only its own, but also the EU’s external borders, says spokesman

Mar 05, 2019

The Hungarian government’s position has remained unchanged for three years: help should be provided at the point where it is needed rather than bringing trouble over to Europe, István Hollik said

News in Brief

Spain and Greece don't maintain Schengen border controls, says security advisor

Aug 14, 2018

György Bakondi says other member states are compelled to maintain controls in the interest of their countries' security.

News in Brief

Number of migrants stranded in Bosnia-Herzegovina has ballooned, says chief security advisor

Aug 02, 2018

György Bakondi stressed that with the Hungarian border closed, migrants aiming to reach the EU turned to the route through Albania, Montenegro, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia and Slovenia

News in Brief

German Chancellor says that by protecting the EU’s external border, Hungary is also protecting Germany

Jun 11, 2018

“By protecting the Hungarian-Serbian external EU border, Hungary is protecting Germany, too,” Chancellor Merkel said. "In order to preserve free movement within the community, a real European border police must be established"

News in Brief Prime Minister

PM Orbán visits Tompa, on the Hungarian-Serbian border to inspect Hungary’s border fence and to thank police and soldiers for their efforts

Mar 19, 2018

“If there were no fence, tens of thousands of migrants would be arriving in Hungary each year,” the prime minister said

Blog

Hey, POLITICO Europe, you left out some important details – like really important details – about the Ahmed H. incident

Mar 06, 2018 - Zoltán Kovács

When POLITICO Europe published that story this morning on the retrial of a man facing charges in Hungary after an attack on Hungarian border guards, the reporter and editors left a lot out of the story.

News in Brief

The Government of Hungary has proposed a new bill to tackle illegal immigration

Jan 17, 2018

On the frontier of Europe, Hungary is particularly exposed to the effects of illegal immigration, and the government is proposing measures to stop it

News in Brief Prime Minister

PM Orbán says the EU must help refugees, but “we cannot help the world while destroying our own people”

Jan 15, 2018

PM Orbán said that Syrians fleeing for their lives have the right to enter the first safe state they arrive in, but the EU “let them march into Europe, and suspended all our laws to allow this”

News in Brief Prime Minister

PM Orbán: "Now is the time to defend the Schengen system if we want to preserve and even increase our competitiveness"

Jan 11, 2018

Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has told leaders of Germany’s largest corporations that 2018 is a crucial year for Europe

News in Brief

V4 and other EU member states agree to widen Schengen zone and include Western Balkans

Dec 05, 2017

Ministers from the V4 plus Serbia, Slovenia, Croatia, Greece, Romania and Bulgaria agreed that the EU should expand the Schengen zone and include countries from the Western Balkans along with establishing energy security

News in Brief

EU ministers reach agreement on amendment to posted workers directive

Oct 25, 2017

Szabolcs Takács said the Hungarian delegation managed to protect the interests of the haulage sector, and made other "constructive" proposals

News in Brief

PM Orbán joins leaders from the Visegrad Group of countries for a working dinner hosted by Jean-Claude Juncker

Oct 19, 2017

International media reports have touted the talks as a crucial meeting to “avoid an EU split”

News in Brief Prime Minister

PM Orbán: Hungarian people want Europe’s external borders to be closed, and the internal borders to remain open

Oct 19, 2017

PM Orbán said that he has faith in the Schengen system recovering in the near future “from its current comatose state”, as the greatest attraction of the EU is freedom of movement across its territory

News in Brief

PM Orbán inaugurates new bridge between Hungary and Slovakia

Oct 18, 2017

Prime Minister Viktor Orbán was joined by Slovak counterpart Robert Fico to lay the cornerstone for a new bridge joining Hungarian town Komárom and Slovakia’s Komarno

News in Brief Prime Minister

PM Orbán calls for EU to protect and uphold the Schengen Agreement

Oct 16, 2017

The prime minister said Hungary’s and the V4 standpoint on the EU can be summarized by stating that if we want to move forward, we shouldn’t begin by stepping backwards

Blog

The New York Times editors really still don’t get it

Sep 11, 2017 - Zoltán Kovács

“Hungary is making Europe’s migrant crisis worse,” according to the New York Times editorial board in an op-ed published over the weekend. How?

News in Brief

PM Orbán tells Jean-Claude Juncker that his “interpretation of solidarity conforms neither to EU law nor the historical traditions of Hungary”

Sep 08, 2017

"I’d like to repeat the Hungarian government’s request that the European Union pay half the cost of Hungarian measures, including the fence, aimed at protecting the common Schengen borders,” PM Orbán said

News in Brief

Hungary's Foreign Minister in response to Angela Merkel: PM Orbán ordered the Hungarian authorities to uphold Schengen rules in all circumstances

Sep 05, 2017

Minister Szijjártó said it was an “honor” for Hungary that its efforts were mentioned during Germany's political debate and recognition that Germany was “finally aware of the efforts Hungary is making to fulfil its commitments to the bloc by protecting itself and Europe”

News in Brief

EC rejects request for border fence contribution but government still insists on it

Sep 04, 2017

The cost so far has been an enormous unforeseeable expense for the Hungarian budget amounting to 270 billion HUF. The government still hopes that Brussels will make a contribution to this cost

News in Brief

Hungary's foreign minister meets with Estonian counterpart to discuss ways of improving defense of EU and Baltic region

Aug 31, 2017

"Both countries consider it a priority to reinforce the Schengen zone, defend the EU’s borders and intensify cooperation between the EU and NATO," Hungary's foreign ministry said

News in Brief

Hungary's deputy speaker says Angela Merkel was mistaken when she said the Hungarian government “misled” migrants

Aug 31, 2017

Merkel said that migrants who had departed from Budapest on foot towards the Austrian border in 2015 had done so because they had been “misled” by the Hungarian government

News in Brief

Hungary will keep its Southern border standing to protect EU from terrorism

Jul 19, 2017

Hungary will only give refugee status to those who have indeed fled countries where their lives were in danger. Hungary’s asylum regulations conform to the Geneva Conventions

News in Brief

Hungary supports assisting those who are truly eligble for asylum

Jul 17, 2017

The pressure from illegal migration is still not receding, and in fact a significant increase is being observed along both the Mediterranean migrating route and from Morocco to Spain

Blog

An Egg Without a Shell, a Country Without Borders

Jul 10, 2017 - Mária Schmidt

European history is a history of invasions

News in Brief

Hungary defends itself against criticisms from The Economist newspaper

Jul 07, 2017

Hungary's government spokesman said that contrary to the narrative of The Economist, democracy is doing just fine in Hungary. Elections remain free and fair

News in Brief

Austria follows Hungary's lead and blocks migrants at border

Jul 05, 2017

Austrian soldiers have been sent to the Italian border to carry out checks on migrants

News in Brief

Hungary says efforts must be made to maintain Europe's security

Jun 21, 2017

The Salzburg Forum agreed that members would help each other if need be in border protection operations under the coordination of Frontex, the EU’s border protection agency. The participants also agreed to support dispatching Frontex units in Serbia and Macedonia

Blog

Borders must be protected

Jun 20, 2017 - György Bakondi

The migration crisis has besieged Europe for two years, and the terms “migration” and “immigration” have taken on new meaning because of it.

News in Brief

Hungary appeals EU ruling on compensation for Bangladeshi asylum seekers

Jun 15, 2017

Pál Völner, Justice Ministry state secretary, said that rulings like this could “tear down the Schengen system” and generate “business human rights protection”

Blog

Illegal Migration: What is going on in the Mediterranean Sea?

Jun 08, 2017 - Zoltán Kovács

An interesting video surfaced recently in the deep corners of Youtube, a two-minute clip that uses open-source information on marine traffic to allegedly show how pro-migration NGO vessels are shuttling illegal migrants from the coast of Libya to Italy.

News in Brief

Hungary says European Parliament should review measures that exonerate terrorists

Jun 08, 2017

“International and European Union organizations must provide concrete replies to the question of whether a terrorist can be exonerated," Péter Szijjártó, minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, said

News in Brief

Parliamentary speaker dismisses opposition rhetoric on "defending" Hungary's EU membership

Jun 02, 2017

Hungary's parliamentary speaker said the opposition had missed the point with its rhetoric on “defending” Hungary’s EU membership against the policies of the governing parties because that's never been the government's position

News in Brief

Europe is in the "eleventh hour" when it comes to acting on security

May 31, 2017

“Europe no longer has any time to lose; after the terrorist attack in Manchester, it should be clear to everyone that we are in the eleventh hour when it comes to Europe’s security," Hungary's foreign minister said

News in Brief

Hungary reluctant to relax laws surrounding illegal immigration

May 30, 2017

Hungary's government spokesperson has said that the country is staunchly against any attempt to relax the existing legal framework surrounding the issue of illegal migration

Speeches and Remarks Prime Minister

Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s speech at the 11th Congress of the Slovenian Democratic Party (SDS)

May 23, 2017

20 May 2017, Maribor

News in Brief

Hungarian Police: 'We do not hold asylum-seekers captive'

May 23, 2017

"We do not hold asylum-seekers captive. They are free to leave towards Serbia anytime," said Zsolt Gulyás, deputy police captain in Csongrád Country, in an article published in the Danish newspaper Politiken.

News in Brief

Hungary's border fence is "not electrified"

May 15, 2017

Gyorgy Bakondi, chief security advisor to the Prime Minister, confirmed that the fence was not electrified and such a move had never even been considered

News in Brief

Hungary says EU should focus on illegal immigrants rather than "pestering" EU citizens at border checks

May 10, 2017

The Hungarian government is temporarily suspending the implementation of the EU regulation on systematic border checks - and will instead be introducing targeted border checks

News in Brief

Hungary says it's about time Brussels grasped the facts

May 02, 2017

“We expect the Hungarians to be given the respect they have a right to and we draw the attention of the Brussels bureaucrats to the fact that while they are centered on Hungary, the country is defending the borders of the European Union from illegal immigration," the minister said

Blog

The troubling alliance between NGOs and human traffickers off Europe’s southern border

Apr 29, 2017 - Zoltán Kovács

An increasing number of reports indicate that non-governmental organizations are collaborating with human traffickers to illegally transport migrants into Europe, undocumented and unchecked.

News in Brief

Hungary to appeal European Court of Human Rights decision to award two Bangladeshi migrants compensation

Apr 26, 2017

The court had awarded the asylum seekers approximately 3 million HUF (9.600 EUR) each in compensation and close to 3 million HUF in legal fees to the Helsinki Committee

Blog

Outrageous: The New York Times compares migrants to the victims of the Holocaust

Apr 21, 2017 - Zoltán Kovács

Right there on the front page of the print edition, no less.

News in Brief

Hungary's border reinforcements are "working well and without problems"

Apr 03, 2017

No one has been able to enter the territory of Hungary illegally since the legal border reinforcement because the authorities have prevented this, and the migrants who were apprehended in the interior of the country were accompanied back to the transit zones

Blog

Is the European Court of Human Rights going to tell you who gets to cross the border into Europe?

Mar 30, 2017 - Zoltán Kovács

According to Schengen rules, if people enter the Schengen zone by crossing the Hungarian border and do not have proper documentation, then Hungary has a legal obligation to ensure that those people do not leave until their status is clarified.

News in Brief

PM Orbán: We are getting closer to a sensible migration policy in Europe

Mar 29, 2017

The prime minister said Hungary has closed all legal loopholes concerning migration and prepared itself for the possible failure of the migration deal between the EU and Turkey

News in Brief

Hungary never closed its borders to migrants says minister

Mar 29, 2017

"Hungary actually never closed its borders to refugees or migrants. Anyone, even in the last two years, who wanted to cross the border legally [could use] border crossing stations. You provide your papers, your passport, and if you don’t have one, you basically play by the rules of the authorities and by the legislation of the EU," Hungary's deputy minster of Foreign Affairs and Trade said

News in Brief

The Helsinki Committee is attacking the reinforced legal border barrier

Mar 29, 2017

The Helsinki Committee is attacking the reinforced legal border barrier - during the course of its overzealous activities it is attacking non-existent container prisons using faulty legal reasoning, according to a statement released today by the Ministry of Interior.

News in Brief

Syrian man wanted for murder arrested in Hungary

Mar 24, 2017

Hungary's police headquarters said officers checked the 25-year-old man's data, and it was established he was wanted in Germany for homicide, and was detained by the Gyula police force

News in Brief

Hungary finds human rights court ruling "unacceptable and unenforceable"

Mar 24, 2017

The government will appeal the decision. Hungary insists, based on the principle of the reinforcement of sovereignty, that it should have the right to decide whom to take in and whom to expel

News in Brief

Europe is facing a migrant crisis, not a refugee crisis

Mar 20, 2017

Hungary is not in breach of European and international laws on refugees, no fundamental human right exists that states everyone is free to choose in which country they want to live

Blog

The Trojan horse in Europe’s borderless Schengen zone

Mar 20, 2017 - Zoltán Kovács

The migration crisis will continue, said Prime Minister Orbán at a recent swearing-in ceremony for 462 new Hungarian border rangers, “until people everywhere realize that [it is] the Trojan horse of terrorism.”

News in Brief

PM Orbán says second border fence will protect Hungary from renewed migrant crisis

Mar 17, 2017

PM Orban said that Hungary's second border fence will keep out the largest of migrant crowds arriving from the direction of Turkey

News in Brief

Hungary declares that Brussels’ migration policy is a failure

Mar 17, 2017

According to Hungary's foreign minister, Brussels' migration policy is based on half-solutions and has failed. Turkey has suggested that it might terminate its agreement with the EU

Blog

Dear New York Times Editors: You just don’t get it, do you?

Mar 14, 2017 - Zoltán Kovács

“Clearly, Mr. Orban is playing the European Union for a patsy,” the New York Times editors write in a piece published yesterday. “At what point will the union have the courage to take action against his policies?”

News in Brief

94 asylum-seekers launch hunger strike until they are set free

Mar 14, 2017

Hungary's asylum office said that most of those in the reception center in the southeastern city of Békéscsaba were being held because they broke European Union asylum rules

News in Brief

PM Orbán: Europe is the best place in the World

Mar 13, 2017

"European culture, civilization and economy have achieved unprecedented results in the period since the Second World War, and there is every chance of Europe being able to offer its citizens the best and happiest way of life in the world," PM Orbán said

News in Brief

Frontex finds 'no fault' in way Hungarian authorities conduct border patrols

Mar 09, 2017

Officers serving in Hungary within the framework of the European Union’s border guard agency Frontex found "no fault with the work of police officers and military personnel on duty at the border"

Issues

Hungary has an obligation to defend the Schengen borders

Mar 09, 2017

Protecting the external border of the EU remains essential to maintaining security and the freedom of movement in the Schengen Area

News in Brief

Hungarian parliament approves measures to tighten existing asylum regulations

Mar 08, 2017

With 138 votes in favor, 6 against and 22 abstentions, parliament approved new measures to prohibit asylum-seekers from leaving the transit zones set up on the border until their cases are ruled upon

News in Brief

Hungary responds to UNHCR claim that it 'tramples on European Union laws'

Mar 08, 2017

The Hungarian government has said that it gives priority to the interests and security of Hungarians, and no illegal migrants will be let into the country without a due assessment of their application for asylum

News in Brief

Hungarian government "categorically rejects' claims of police brutality against migrants

Mar 07, 2017

The Hungarian government denies media reports which state refugees who made it to the Serbian-Hungarian border encountered incidents of violence by Hungarian authorities

News in Brief

Hungary's border fence is protecting the European Union

Mar 07, 2017

The new secondary line of defense, stretching for 150 kilometers, will enable the border to be monitored using CCTV and thermal cameras, and other technological equipment

News in Brief

Hungary extends national state of emergency in response to growing migrant crisis

Mar 03, 2017

Hungary's state of emergency will run until September 7. The reason to keep it in place is that 800,000 people stuck in the Balkans are unable to return to Turkey

News in Brief

Hungary defends its now popular migrant policy during LIBE hearing

Feb 28, 2017

The Hungarian government expects political conflicts in connection with the second line of defense and Hungary’s new regulations because certain NGOs promote a political agenda at odds with protecting Europe

Blog

Putting the rights of illegals before the rights of European citizens is “insane”

Feb 28, 2017 - Zoltán Kovács

Yesterday afternoon, Hungarian Minister of Justice Trócsányi and I were invited to defend the Orbán Government’s policy on migration before the European Parliament’s Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs.

News in Brief Prime Minister

PM Orbán: International organizations posing as civic groups ended up “murdering" Hungary's Olympic dream

Feb 24, 2017

The campaign to collect signatures for a planned referendum on whether Budapest should host the 2024 summer Olympics ended up “murdering a dream”

News in Brief

Hungary forges partnership with Croatia to patrol borders of the two nations

Feb 21, 2017

Hungary and Croatia will work together to increase security without putting an extra burden on residents of the two countries. Border crossers will be checked regardless of whether they are entering or leaving the country

News in Brief

Hungary's new border controls protect the European Union

Feb 17, 2017

György Bakondi, the prime minister’s chief security advisor, said that the new border controls, if passed by parliament, would be applied “at times of emergency caused by mass migration”

News in Brief

Hungarian government to place new bill before Parliament to reintroduce restrictions on the freedom of movement

Feb 08, 2017

János Lázár, the minister heading the Prime Minister’s Office, said that Hungary’s Strategic Cabinet has come to a decision on the amendment of the four acts required to reintroduce restrictions on the freedom of movement of migrants and the bill will soon be put before Parliament

News in Brief

Hungary's position of protecting the EU's borders and restoring law and order accepted by EU leaders

Feb 07, 2017

“Although the Hungarian government doesn’t like the border security fence”, it has proven to be effective, because it is capable of stopping, or at least slowing illegal immigration, Hungary's government spokesperson said

Blog

The way we make Europe great again

Feb 04, 2017 - Zoltán Kovács

In an evolving, multipolar world order, Europe cannot afford to waste its energy and resources on senseless pursuits. Europe has great potential, but it lacks self-confidence. It is passing through a period of weakness, and that weakness breeds insecurity and fear that poisons the soul of the European body politic.

News in Brief

PM Orbán: The wave of illegal immigrants could be stopped if Italy changed its position on migration

Feb 03, 2017

PM Orbán traveled to Malta for an informal European Union summit to discuss the recent global political changes and the migrant crisis

News in Brief

Hungarian police force achieves its goal of protecting people despite illegal migration and threat of terrorism

Feb 02, 2017

Uncovering cyber crime and providing adequate protection of the borders in line with Schengen rules will be among the main challenges this year, Hungary's police chief has said

News in Brief

Migrant crisis could lead to border fences going up between EU member states

Jan 30, 2017

The migrant crisis could lead to a divided Europe where member states raise their own border fences to protect their nations

News in Brief

Migrant crisis worsens as largest number of illegal border crossers recorded over weekend

Jan 30, 2017

192 attempts to illegally cross the border were registered on Friday, of which 159 were prevented and 33 migrants were accompanied back across the border. On Saturday, 178 people tried to enter Hungary illegally

News in Brief

Hungary calls for open borders within the Schengen zone

Jan 16, 2017

“If Schengen dies, the open economy will also die," warns Péter Szijjártó, minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

News in Brief

More Hungarian police contingents to carry out EU border patrols this year

Jan 10, 2017

During a month-long mission, 25 officers will carry out patrol tasks with their Macedonian colleagues on their border with Greece

News in Brief

Hungary builds relations with Latvia

Dec 20, 2016

“Hungary and Latvia have a strong alliance and are in agreement on many important issues concerning the future of the European Union," Minister Szijjártó said

News in Brief

PM Orbán: Migrant crisis depends on border protection

Dec 19, 2016

PM Orbán said the external borders must be protected; those who have entered must be returned; and those who want to enter must be guarded and screened for refugee status in territories outside the EU

News in Brief

Syrian charged with attacking military guard at Röszke border point

Dec 13, 2016

Csongrád County’s prosecution office said the man is charged with carrying out a violent armed attack against a person on public duty

News in Brief

Hungary has no intention of approving the EU's mandatory relocation scheme for migrants

Dec 09, 2016

The distribution of migrants affects Hungary's sovereignty in its very essence, and Hungary is therefore unable to participate in such a scheme

News in Brief

Defense chief inspects the Hungarian-Serbian border

Nov 23, 2016

Several thousand soldiers patrol the border sections 24 hours a day, participating in search and sweep operations and securing the surveillance of the area of responsibility with UAVs and rotary-wing aircraft

News in Brief

Ambassador Bell: The US should not criticize Hungary's immigration policies

Nov 21, 2016

We have not seen such a serious migration crisis since the Second World War, Ambassador Bell said

News in Brief

The EU's migrant relocation scheme does not work

Nov 18, 2016

Negotiation positions on certain provisions of European refugee policy have not converged because Holland does not share Hungary’s opinion that the distribution of refugees according to mandatory quotas is unacceptable

News in Brief

Hungary funds its own border fences, NOT the EU

Nov 16, 2016

The Hungarian government did not construct a fence on the border out of EU monies “and especially not with Italian money”; we financed the fence from the budget, or “to make it more understandable for Matteo Renzi”, the people of Hungary are spending their own money on protecting the EU border, Hungary's foreign minister said

News in Brief

Austria sends 60 troops to Hungarian-Serbian border

Nov 03, 2016

Based at Hódmezővásárhely near Szeged in southeast Hungary for a six month posting, the Austrian soldiers are sappers who will help build roads and erect containers

News in Brief

Hungary doesn't need Italy's money

Nov 01, 2016

Italy has demanded tough treatment of Eastern European countries, including Hungary, that refuse to accept migrants under the EU’s relocation scheme

News in Brief

Italy threatens to veto EU budget over central Europe's immigration stance

Oct 26, 2016

Péter Szijjártó, minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, said that the Italian prime minister “completely misunderstands the situation"

News in Brief

Hungary builds new border fence

Oct 26, 2016

The new fence is on the southern border with Serbia and is aimed at keeping migrants and refugees from freely entering Hungary

News in Brief

Hungarian police set off to protect Serbian-Bulgarian border

Oct 24, 2016

Since January 2016, 18,028 illegal border crossers have been apprehended along the external Schengen borders of Hungary

News in Brief

Reports of brutality by Hungarian police towards migrants are untrue

Oct 21, 2016

"The people who wrote these [reports] have not been to Hungary, or if they did they are lying," the minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade said

Speeches and Remarks Prime Minister

Interview with Prime Minister Viktor Orbán in the newspaper Passauer Neue Presse [full text in English]

Oct 21, 2016

October 20, 2016

News in Brief

Terrorists used Hungary as a 'gateway into western Europe'

Oct 11, 2016

According to Hungary's center for counter-terrorism, ISIS set up a 'logistics hub' in Hungary in the summer of 2015 at the peak of the migrant crisis

News in Brief

Sweden to take legal action against Hungary for refusing to take back migrants

Oct 07, 2016

Morgan Johansson, Sweden’s minister of justice, said Hungary had a duty to examine the asylum claims of people who were first registered there before travelling to other countries

News in Brief

Hungary spends over 300 million euros on Schengen border fence

Oct 02, 2016

The cost of the border fence has been footed entirely by Hungary, without support from the EU, despite being hailed as the 'wall that saved Europe'

News in Brief

PM Orbán: The EU's forced migration quotas would change Hungary

Sep 28, 2016

Prime Minister Orbán said that while the left considers the matter of migrant redistribution an ideological one, the government considers it a national security issue

News in Brief

PM Orbán: 'Those who came illegally must be shipped out' then apply for asylum

Sep 22, 2016

The PM reiterated that the external borders of the EU must be strengthened to prevent a repeat of the 2015 flow of migrants

News in Brief

Hungary will refuse entry to returning migrants who did not enter EU in Hungary

Sep 22, 2016

It would be “unfair” if Hungary “rather than the rich Scandinavian countries” had to accommodate these people

News in Brief

Austria begins plans to erect fence along Hungarian border

Sep 21, 2016

Meanwhile, George Soros, the Hungarian billionaire venture capitalist, announced he intends to invest 500 million USD in aiding migrants and refugees

News in Brief

Hungary will only take back migrants who entered the EU through its country

Sep 08, 2016

The decline in the number of illegal migrants arriving in Austria is thanks to stricter border protection in Hungary

News in Brief

Hungary will help Serbia protect borders against migrant surge

Sep 06, 2016

PM Orbán described an agreement between the European Union and Turkey on stopping mass migration as "fragile"

News in Brief

Czech Republic sends fifty police officers to help patrol Hungarian-Serbian border

Sep 06, 2016

The Czech policemen are assisting Hungary’s border protection efforts as part of a Visegrad Four cooperation initiative

News in Brief

Hungarian authorities are helping the fight against Islamic extremists

Aug 24, 2016

There have been a number of cases where extremists have been smuggled through Europe into Middle Eastern war zones

News in Brief

PM Orbán: Hungary is protecting its borders one hundred percent

Aug 24, 2016

Despite positive relations with Turkey, Hungary will not allow access to the threatened numbers of migrants from Ankara

News in Brief

Slovakian police welcomed in Hungary to help patrol borders

Aug 02, 2016

Twenty five officers, sent at the request of Hungary, were welcomed at a ceremony in Budapest yesterday

News in Brief

One hundred migrants on hunger strike at Hungarian border

Jul 28, 2016

Illegal immigrants are demanding that Hungary open its border to allow them passage, and a further 100 asylum seekers are planning to join the protests but police are blocking their path

News in Brief

Hungary's border protection is fair, efficient and effective

Jul 28, 2016

Hungary maintains its fair, just and legal handling of migrants who seek asylum, and they will be dealt with in a fair, appropriate and humane manner

News in Brief

Hungary to work with Austria on migrant crisis

Jul 27, 2016

The Hungarian government is holding a referendum on October 2 to seek support for its opposition to the EU's forced migration quotas

News in Brief

More immigrants means greater threat of terrorism

Jul 18, 2016

In light of the recent Nice attack, and other terrorist attacks in Europe, all the signs appear to indicate that western Europe has failed to integrate immigrants effectively

News in Brief

Migrant Crisis: Hungary rejects claims of unfair treatment

Jul 14, 2016

Hungary proceeds in a humane manner with those who are actually in need, and the people who are waiting at its borders and in its territory receive fair treatment

News in Brief

Poland to help protect Hungarian border

Jul 13, 2016

Poland confirmed that they will be sending a contingent to support Hungary’s border protection system

News in Brief

Migrant Crisis: Government will not compromise Hungary's security

Jul 08, 2016

Increased border patrols, harsher security checks and more than 10,000 police and troops are protecting the Hungarian people

News in Brief

Austrian border checks are unjustified

Jul 07, 2016

Foreign minister said controls were needed on Hungary's Serbian and Croatian borders but not where it meets Austria

News in Brief

Army and police ready to protect Hungary's borders

Jul 06, 2016

The police and the Hungarian Defense Force have taken great efforts to prepare for the introduction of the new border protection system, which guarantees the security of the Hungarian people and the protection of external borders

News in Brief

More than 17,000 illegal immigrants arrested in Hungary

Jun 29, 2016

In 2016 alone, 17,008 illegal immigrants have crossed the Hungarian section of Europe's external Schengen border

News in Brief

Migrant Crisis: Hungarians should choose who they want to live with

Jun 17, 2016

The migrant crisis has so far posed an unprecedented challenge for Europe and could be the precursor of an economic and social crisis

News in Brief

Migrant Crisis: Hungary won't take back refugees from Austria

Jun 10, 2016

Tension is brewing between friendly neighbors over return of illegal immigrants

News in Brief

Migrant Crisis: Hungary must protect its borders

Jun 10, 2016

The southern border barrier must prevent migrants from entering the EU illegally, without it having to be controlled

News in Brief

Migrationskrise: Ungarn nimmt keine Flüchtlinge von Österreich zurück

Jun 10, 2016

Die Anspannung zwischen freundlichen Nachbarn wächst aufgrund der Rückkehr illegaler Migranten.

News in Brief

Austria shows its support for Hungary's migration policies

Jun 08, 2016

The Hungarian government takes action in the best interest of their people

News in Brief

UNHCR accuses Hungary of causing migrant death

Jun 08, 2016

UN agency voiced strong concerns over a situation where a group of refugees were reportedly pushed back into the Tisza River

News in Brief

Migrant Crisis: 382 illegal immigrants apprehended in Hungary over weekend

Jun 07, 2016

The number of illegal immigrants trying to enter Hungary has increased month-by-month

News in Brief

Hungary to place permanent barriers at the borders

Jun 01, 2016

The move follows reports of Serbian police foiling a people trafficker’s attempt to smuggle 44 migrants across the border to Hungary

News in Brief

Hungary is prepared for violent break-ins at the borders

May 31, 2016

Chief Security Advisor stressed that there is no threat of a violent break-in from the Röszke and Tompa transit zone

News in Brief

UN blasts Hungary for keeping out migrants

May 13, 2016

Despite strong criticism from Brussels, the approach has gone down well in Hungary, a country with few immigrants and less problems

News in Brief

Antal Rogan: Bring forward referendum on migrant crisis

May 10, 2016

The compulsory resettlement of migrants is a real and imminent threat

News in Brief

Prime Minister Orban: EU plans to fine countries who refuse migrants are a "punch to the stomach"

May 06, 2016

The European Union’s latest proposal of fining countries 250,000 EUR per migrant for refusing to take in refugees is a "horse kick"

News in Brief

Austria increases patrol efforts on the border with Hungary

Apr 28, 2016

Following recent attempts at smuggling migrants through EU nations, border patrols have been stepped up between Austria and Hungary

Blog

Why so many competing proposals to protect Europe and its borders?

Apr 25, 2016 - Zoltán Kovács

European member states are exceptionally busy these days. Although some critics suggest that they seem asleep at the wheel in the wake of the biggest migration crisis the continent has seen for decades, the European Commission and some individual member states have drafted proposals to respond to the crisis. These plans are currently vying with one another, all in preparation for the upcoming European Council Summit.