Hungarian foreign minister warns of further migration risks

Péter Szijjártó, who has been nominated to continue as Hungary’s foreign minister, highlighted new security challenges for Hungary and the region, and said that a possible increase in migration could lead to another crisis.

Speaking before parliament’s national security committee on Tuesday, Szijjártó said that some 30-35 million people in North Africa and the Middle East “could decide to leave” for Europe, while several more million in the Sub-Saharan region could also set off.

On another subject, Szijjártó called it “unacceptable” that the European Union set 2025 as the target date for Serbia’s and Montenegro’s accession.

He urged that the process of Euro-Atlantic integration should be accelerated and all chapters of the negotiations should be opened with those two countries.

In the new government, the foreign ministry will also overview the areas of international energy talks, space research, and cross-border investment projects, Szijjártó said. Concerning energy, he called diversification crucial and criticised Romania and Croatia, which he said had failed to complete facilities through which “they could also supply gas to Hungary”.

Szijjártó referred to the situation of ethnic Hungarians as a special challenge. He mentioned Ukraine, and said that Hungary would maintain its veto against a NATO-Ukraine summit unless Ukraine provides legal guarantees to drop its laws violating the rights of its Hungarian community.