EP President: Hungarian government’s reasons for quota referendum ‘ideological’

Budapest, February 26 (MTI) – The Hungarian government’s referendum call on the EU’s migrant quota system seems to be “an ideological decision”, Martin Schulz, head of the European Parliament, said.

According to the European Union’s decision on relocations, Hungary would have to accept the resettlement of 1,294 migrants, Schulz told daily Népszabadsag on Friday. Holding a referendum on whether to accept 1,294 “speaks volumes” and proves that this decision is rooted in ideology and not warranted by a lack of resources or capacity, the Socialist politician told the paper.

In another article published in Friday’s Népszabadság, MEP for Fidesz József Szájer said that under Hungary’s basic law and the EU Treaty Hungary had not transferred the authority of making decisions on the distribution of migrants by mandatory quotas to the EU. The area of internal and justice affairs is a mixed legal ground and Hungary is not obliged to accept migrants by the Geneva Convention either, Szájer said.

This is a matter of sovereignty, Szájer told the paper, adding that the government’s initiative cannot be stopped.

Photo: MTI

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