Hungarian government: EU-Turkey weekend summit on migration crucial

Budapest (MTI) – The upcoming EU-Turkey summit focusing on migration will be of key importance since it can considerably influence migration pressure on Europe, the foreign minister said on Friday.

It would best serve the EU’s interests if the bloc could start the talks on Sunday from a “strong position”. But the EU will instead “sit down to the negotiating table defenceless” as it has so far been unable to protect its borders and itself, Peter Szijjarto told a press conference.

Europe’s current situation is the consequence of a “hypocrite policy of postponing decisions,” he said.

Szijjarto noted that over the past ten days European politicians had made about 30 statements emphasising the importance of protecting the EU’s external borders. Yet no concrete progress has been made in this issue while some 5,000-10,000 migrants cross EU borders illegally per day, he said.

The minister said that Hungary has been the only EU member state which has been able to take a decision to protect its borders and quell the wave of migrants while observing all EU laws.

The first step for Europe to take would be to reach an agreement with the countries where migrants are coming from on keeping them home, and support the related efforts with appropriate funding, he said.

Szijjarto announced that Prime Minister Viktor Orban would pay an official visit to Iran on Monday and Tuesday and sign agreements on bilateral investment protection and the avoidance of double taxation.

Source: http://mtva.hu/hu/hungary-matters