The speaker of Hungary’s parliament discusses migrant crisis with Dutch parliamentarians

The Hague, November 26 (MTI) – The speaker of Hungary’s parliament held talks with senior officials and members of the Dutch parliament with a main focus on the migration crisis and possible solutions.

Assessing his meetings, Laszlo Kover told MTI on Wednesday evening that he held talks with Anouchka van Miltenburg, president of the lower chamber, members of the upper chamber’s foreign affairs, EU affairs and immigration committees, as well as members of parliament.

Kover said he explained Hungary’s position on migration to the Dutch officials during his talks. Views in the Netherlands were rather mixed on Hungary’s migration policy earlier with reservations expressed over the fence erected on the southern border, Kover said, adding, however, that by now the Dutch have demonstrated greater understanding towards Hungary’s measures.

The migrant crisis has so far exposed insufficiencies in the EU’s operation that must be addressed during the rotating presidency the Netherlands will take up from January next year for six months, he said.

“We must consider Europe’s future when we are trying to find solutions for the migration issue,” Kover said. He noted that the Hungarian and Dutch positions were close in this respect, as both sides agree that national parliaments of member states should be assigned a bigger role and they should cooperate more closely.

Concerning Hungarian measures, Kover said Hungary has been the only member state that has taken ” the moral and political risk” of strengthening the EU’s external borders by erecting a fence.

Now, an increasing number of EU member states, including the Netherlands, are acknowledging that Hungary’s measures have been appropriate, he said.

Kover said he discussed migration, the Paris attacks and security matters with Interior Minister Ronald Plasterk and they agreed to continue close cooperation between the Hungarian and Dutch security services.

He said he also met members of the local Hungarian community and representatives of Hungarian organisations during his three-day visit to the Netherlands.