Government to reallocate additional HUF 22.2 bn for tackling migration

Budapest, July 29 (MTI) – The government will reallocate an additional 22.2 billion forints (EUR 71.8m) for the construction of the border fence along the Hungarian-Serbian border and for the temporary placement of illegal migrants, the government spokesman told public news channel M1 on Wednesday.

Zoltan Kovacs noted that the government had already reallocated 6.5 billion forints for the construction of the fence, meaning that a total of 29 billion forints will be spent on tackling Hungary’s migration crisis.

The funds, which will be spent on setting up migrant camps outside residential areas and relocating reception centres from built-up areas, will be reallocated from budget reserves, Kovacs said. The government will decide on where it will place the camps within a few months, he added. He said over 3,500 migrants were currently staying at reception centres.

Kovacs said the increasing migration pressure also posed financial difficulties for Hungary, as the European Union has so far only provided “a fraction” of the funding needed for dealing with the crisis.

The government spokesman said that over 5,600 illegal migrants had received treatment up until the beginning of June, adding that the crisis is also having an effect on Hungary’s health-care sector.