Hungary’s foreign minister has officially protested over the negotiations on the UN’s Compact for Migration after the EU put forward a common standpoint to which there is no consensus among the 28 member states.
Péter Szijjártó, minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, made his feelings known in a letter to the European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini.
He said this was an “unprecedented and scandalous case” and Hungary is awaiting action on the part of Federica Mogherini to ensure that nothing similar can ever happen again and is expecting an explanation of how this situation could have come about.
“It makes no difference what pressure is exerted on Hungary, the Hungarian position will not change: the country will protect its southern borders, the security fence will remain in place, no illegal immigrants will be allowed to enter Hungary and the security of the Hungarian people is the only thing that matters,” the minister said.
“The fact that the series of negotiations on the UN’s Compact for Migration has begun means that international pressure on Hungary to change its stance on migration has increased,” he explained. “In view of the fact that the fundamental proposal being put forward by the UN is at odds with Hungary’s interests, the possibility had been raised that Hungary might exit the talks, but following consultations with our Visegrád Group (V4) partners, Hungary has decided to remain and attempt to change the migration package,” he added.
The minister said that as pressure increases, some large international parties are “not even bothering to keep up appearances”.
“This week the EU contravened fundamental European regulations and the stipulations of the European treaties by trying to force the European position onto Hungary, the EU wanted to use coercion to ensure that there is a common EU standpoint on the migration package,” he said.
“According to EU regulations, the EU can only put forward a common position on international issues if all 28-member states are of a similar opinion, a majority is not sufficient”, he explained. “Despite this, the head of the EU delegation in New York put forward his standpoint in the name of the European Union, after which he attempted to place pressure on the diplomat representing the Hungarian Government to explain his position,” he explained.
The minister said that this is proof of the fact that the EU “will stop at nothing” to force its immigration policy onto Hungary. “Furthermore, the debate on the EU position was only set to take place at the meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers on March 19th, but the EU has put it forward already,” he added.