After a shock announcement on Tuesday (June 23) Hungary has backed down from its threat to suspend European Union asylum policy, known as the Dublin
ADVERTISEMENTAfter a shock announcement on Tuesday (June 23) Hungary has backed down from its threat to suspend European Union asylum policy, known as the Dublin Regulation.
Instead, it’s asking for more support from its European partners.
“The Hungarian government has not taken any legal decision on the suspension of the implementation and application of the Dublin system,” the country’s EU Ambassador Péter Györkös told euronews. “We simply were asking for a bit patience and solidarity concerning these transfers back to Hungary.”
Budapest wants more attention on the busy Balkan migration route and has criticized EU proposals for binding quotas on asylum seekers
“There is one very important word,” Györkös said. “Such a system should be established at a voluntary basis. We do not see any reason to change the agreed language at the highest political level. The commission has the right for initiatives I do not challenge this, but we belong to that group of member states who think that it should be voluntary.”
European Commissioner for Budget & Human Resources, Kristalina Georgieva, however, says she will defend the Commission’s position at this week’s EU summit.
“We stand by the proposal we have framed. We think it is the right proposal, that it serves actually our people. Not only it is morally right, but is in our own interest, including our security interest. So we stick to our proposal.”
Migrants arriving in Italy by boat have grabbed the headlines in recent months but every fifth migrant entering the EU comes through Hungary.
Over 60,000 people have entered the country illegally this year – up from less than 20,000 in 2013.