Orbán discusses pandemic protection, migration with head of Austria lower house

Austria coronavirus Coronavirus in Hungary Coronavirus vaccine in Hungary Hungarian government migration Viktor Orbán

Budapest, Hungary. Photo: MTI

Prime Minister Viktor Orbán met Wolfgang Sobotka, the president of the Austrian parliament’s lower house, the National Council on Monday.

At the meeting in Budapest, Orbán and Sobotka discussed their countries’ successful coronavirus protection efforts and illegal migration.

Orbán noted at the meeting that thanks to a successful vaccination campaign, Hungary is “leading the pack” in herd immunity and the pace of easing pandemic-related restrictions.

Orbán welcomed that Austria is also returning to normality, and has recently allowed tourism into the country, Havasi said.

As a European “Covid passport” is not yet in sight, bilateral agreements between countries on accepting immunity certificates may be a solution.

Hungary is ready to conclude such an agreement with Austria too, he added.

Orbán and Sobotka also touched on illegal migration, which they said has been picking up recently. Although the pandemic temporarily stemmed migration to the European Union, it may gather momentum soon, warranting the strengthening of external borders, they said.