Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has asked Jean-Claude Juncker, president of the European Commission, for the Commission to make a 50 percent contribution to the barrier protecting the external Schengen border along Hungary's southern frontier.
The prime minister addressed Juncker in a letter to request a contribution to cover the costs which have so far amounted to 800 million EUR, 270 billion HUF.
According to János Lázár, the minister heading the Prime Minister’s Office, in the context of European solidarity, the issue of border protection should also be mentioned, and solidarity must likewise be manifested in practice. Consequently, the EU must assume a share of the costs incurred by Hungary.
Lázár indicated that the funds will be returned to the central budget. “We would like to see solidarity manifested in specific actions, rather than in mere messages," he said.
"Hungary has adhered to the protection of the European Union’s Schengen borders ever since the outbreak of the migration crisis, and with the construction of the border fence and the training of border guards – which were financed by Hungarian taxpayers – Hungary does not only protect itself, but every citizen of the continent against the flood of illegal immigrants," he said.
"It is no exaggeration to claim that the safety and security of European citizens are also protected by Hungarian police officers and soldiers," he added.
Minister Lázár pointed out that the Commission had already provided assistance to several countries: "Greece has already received one half of the promised 1 billion EUR, Italy has been given 656 million EUR, and Bulgaria will receive 100 million EUR. It is time that Hungary, too, should submit its request," he said.