Hungary has hit back at Italy by saying they do not need help from their neighbor, following threats of financial penalties over the migrant crisis.
The Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi has threatened to hold back Italian funds and repeatedly called on Hungary to do more to share the burden of the migrant crisis.
Italy has demanded tough treatment of Eastern European countries, including Hungary, that refuse to accept migrants under the EU’s relocation scheme.
According to the UK's Daily Express, Péter Szíjjártó, minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, has said that “Hungary does not need offerings or charity from Italy."
“By the way, many Italian entrepreneurs have become rich in our country, with the work of our compatriots since Hungary joined the European Union.”
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said that “Renzi is nervous because he is in trouble, unable to put order to Italian public accounts and meanwhile he violates EU commitments to Schengen borders from the wave of immigrants, so we assume this defence.”
The V4 countries all refuse to share the quotas of migrants between member states, which the European Commission want.
Renzi said that “we give 20 billion euros to Europe so that we can get back 12 — and if Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia want to preach at us about immigrants, allow Italy to say that the system is no longer working.
“If you build walls against immigrants, you can forget about seeing Italian money. If the immigrants don’t go there, the money won’t go there either.”
The Hungarian government has said that the EU works as a source of cohesion funds, aid and subsidies, but they reject Europe as an alliance for common values.
Renzi has ordered his party supporters to increase their campaigning in favor of a referendum on constitutional reform.
The majority of polls have put Renzi likely to lose the referendum, which will take place in December.