Hungary to veto EU development strategy promoting migration

Budapest (MTI) – Hungary will veto a development concept paper the European Union is preparing to adopt, as it highlights migration as having favourable effects on Europe’s future, Hungary’s foreign minister said on Wednesday.

EU ministers of foreign trade will meet in Brussels on Thursday to discuss among other topics the strategy paper dubbed The European Consensus on Development, which includes a provision stating that “well-managed migration and mobility” could favourably contribute to growth and sustainable development in Europe and must be put to use, Péter Szijjártó said.

The document also says that migration could bring benefits by making migrants’ skills and knowledge available to member states, he said, noting that it further promotes closer cooperation among EU countries to facilitate “a safe and responsible migration and the mobility of people”.

Hungary announced its veto of the document on Wednesday morning which “sparked outrage,” Szijjártó said, adding that the EU committee of permanent representatives had to be suspended in the morning over the move.

Hungary has been repeatedly asked by Brussels, even “pressured” by some member states, to drop its veto, Szijjártó said, adding however that the decision would not be reversed.

“The decision on the veto — which was also discussed at Wednesday’s cabinet meeting — is clear, Hungary will uphold it,” Szijjarto said, insisting that the government would reject a development strategy that calls on member states to support migration.

Migration has recently posed a lot of risks to Europe, it has compromised security on the continent, Szijjártó said, adding that for this reason Hungary could not support the EU document.

He said that he will represent Hungary at the meeting of ministers on Thursday in Brussels.

Source: MTI