Hungary celebrates VICTORY over EU’s migrant quotas after Juncker’s speech
THE EUROPEAN Union looks to be giving in to eastern countries' demands for new migration controls.
Dissent has been growing in member states close to migration hotspots
Dissent has been growing in member states close to migration hotspots, with some refusing to take part in the EU refugee relocation programme.
Hungary is just one in the Visegrad Four, also including Poland, Slovakia and the Czech Republic, who have raised concerns over the quotas.
Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orbán has repeatedly refused to participate in the scheme, and has been vocal in his opposition.
But he has also championed multiple ideas to tackle the migrant crisis, including strengthening the EU’s external border and building reception centres in the country of origin for many migrants, rather than in the EU.
He previously said: "We will not give in to blackmail from Brussels. We reject the mandatory relocation quota.”
EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker in his State of the Union address yesterday seemed to take on board some of the ideas.
Italy has made repeated calls to the EU for help in dealing with the influx of migrants
Addressing the floor, he said: “When it comes to returns: People who have no right to stay in Europe must be returned to their countries of origin.
“We are now protecting Europe’s external borders more effectively.”
And Mr Macron recently proposed creating migration centres in Niger and Chad.
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We will not give in to blackmail from Brussels
Italy, which has borne the brunt of migrants arriving from Italy after the Western Balklan route was shut down, has also called for toucher action, echoing Hungary.
French President Emmanuel Macron recently called a meeting with leaders from Germany, Italy and Spain, in a bid to emphasise solidarity.
There is a divide between EU countries, with some claiming they are forced to tackle the issue of migration more than their northern neighbours due to their location.
Hungary is just one in the Visegrad Four, also including Poland, Slovakia and the Czech Republic
Italy has made repeated calls to the EU for help in dealing with the influx of migrants over the mediterranean.
Now some of the measures proposed by eastern Europe Brussels appears to have capitulated on, such as tightening control of EU’s external borders.
Mr Macron recently proposed creating migration centres in Niger and Chad
Milan Nic, senior fellow at the German Council on Foreign Relations. “Germany was quietly looking for common ground with the Visegrad and several aspects of what they were proposing were incorporated into the discussion.”
The move is likely to met with glee by Mr Orbán, who has claimed for months that his stance is justified.