Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said the most important question concerning the EU’s migration and asylum package is whether those who want to come to Europe can stay in EU territory while their application is being processed or they must wait outside the EU borders until a decision is made.
PM Orbán told a public discussion held in the European Parliament in Brussels with former Polish counterpart Mateusz Morawiecki, and Fabrice Leggeri, the former head of Frontex and leader of the French right-wing National Rally (RN) party’s list that as long as this question is not answered, no measures linked to migration would work. Regardless of what proposals are made in connection with the EU’s migration package, the issue of where the applicants stay while their request is being assessed must be answered, PM Orbán said. “This is a red line,” if this is not done, everything else remains unresolved, he said. “If we are not brave enough to say that everyone must stay outside the borders while a decision is being made in their case, then no matter what other decision is made, it will not work,” he added. PM Orbán said that if the approval of the migration package does not require unanimous support, only majority support at the vote, then the entire pact would not work and its implementation would be hindered. The European Commission has taken Hungary to the EU’s court because it considered the Hungarian migration regulations not to comply with EU law, PM Orbán said. “But Hungary has resisted and will continue to fight,” he added.