The Hungarian government is "getting sick of statements concerning solidarity" in regards to people not being able to pick and choose and every country must accept refugees.
Péter Szijjártó, minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, made the remarks in an interview in Austrian daily newspaper Wiener Zeitung on Wednesday.
“By protecting the European Union’s external borders, Hungary is protecting the whole of the EU," the minister said. “Hungary has spent over 800 million euros on border protection so far including the costs of infrastructure, personnel and training," he highlighted.
“Why isn’t border protection included in the category of solidarity? Aren’t we showing solidarity by sending help to Slovenia and Bulgaria?," the minister said..
Minister Szijjártó said that the EU’S strength lies in its unity, which must be preserved. This is why Hungary is no longer capable of hearing threats of blackmail involving the reduction of EU funding, he said.
“When Hungary joined the EU, the agreement was that it would open its borders and receive financial resources," the minister said. “Many enterprises from Austria, Germany, France and other countries realized huge profits as a result," he added.
“EU funding is not equal to humanitarian aid," the minister pointed out. He explained that these funds flow into Hungary and other countries based on treaties, and their advantages are also shared by foreign companies.
“When two years ago we spoke about the security risks related to illegal immigration and the need to protect the EU, we were branded as Nazis and fascists, including by the Austrian Chancellor," he said.
“All this occurred when Hungary was building its border security fence. When the Austrians later began constructing a similar fence along the Austrian-Slovenian border, they referred to it as a 'gate with side parts”, this is what I mean by hypocrisy," he said.