N

Government Spokesman: EU border defense contribution is “derogatory”

Government Spokesman István Hollik has said the European Commission’s contribution to Hungary for defending the EU’s external border is “revolting and derogatory”.

Government Spokesman István Hollik has said the European Commission’s contribution to Hungary for defending the EU’s external border is “revolting and derogatory”.

“The government hopes that in contrast to the current pro-migration leadership in Brussels, the new Commission that will take over in November will consider the defense of the borders a top priority and will support members states, including Hungary, in its efforts to put emphasis on border protection, not organizing migration,” Hollik said.

Two years ago, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán wrote a letter to EC President Jean-Claude Juncker in which he asked the EU to reimburse Hungary half of its additional border defense expenditures which he then said amounted to HUF 270 billion. Hungary says those costs have by now reached HUF 504 billion (EUR 1.53 billion).

The European Commission has notified Hungary that it will contribute EUR 20 million towards those costs, with the proviso that those can only be spent on additional payments to the border guards patrolling the Serbian border.

Hollik said that while the amount is just slightly above one percent of the state’s extra expenditure it will accept the money as it does help supplement the wages of the border guards.

Photo credit: MTI