State Secretary Csaba Dömötör said the adoption of a position on the distribution of migrants by European Union interior ministers has shown “the worst side of Brussels politics”.
In a video posted on Facebook, the state secretary said that in contrast to the EU’s previous plan for migrant distribution quotas, the new version would require member states that refuse to accommodate migrants to pay an equivalent of 8 million forints (EUR 22,000) per migrant. “They call this a contribution, but it’s actually a multi-million forint fine,” he added. The proposal would regulate the distribution of asylum procedure capacities, with Hungary being required to perform 28% of all border procedures, Dömötör said. “The majority of such procedures would not have to be performed by Greece or by Italy, but us,” he added. “This week’s development shows the worst side of Brussels politics because they’re making decisions at the expense of our future over our heads, depriving us of the right to decide whom we want to live with,” the state secretary said, adding that the Hungarian government did not support this. “There will be more talks coming, and we’re ready for the debates,” Dömötör said. “We can’t let them force this plan on us.”