Judit Varga: The fortress of Hungary stands
I want Hungary to allow illegal immigrants. Interview.
“The European Court of Justice ruled this week that the Stop Soros Act is in part in conflict with European law. What conclusions does Hungary draw from this?
As usual, we will wait for a formal, written justification for the verdict. A legal dialogue will then begin with the Commission on exactly how this method should be used. This lasts for months, sometimes more than a year depending on the members. But what we are seeing is already amazing: they are attacking the law that is there to protect Europe from illegal migration and its illegal support. Basically, therefore, the European Court of Justice and the European Commission want Hungary to allow illegal immigrants.
In the past, Budapest has always enforced the judgments of the European Court of Justice without raising any objections. Most recently, as required by the European Court of Justice, Hungary abolished transit zones, but called on the Hungarian Constitutional Court to examine whether parts of the verdict were compatible with the Hungarian Basic Law, as Poland did. Is this the new direction?
To be corrected: no connection with the Polish case. Each case and each member is different. We were curious about the opinion of the Constitutional Court. This is not primarily about the primacy of the new law; it is a question of interpretation.
What is the interpretation?
We see that the European Union’s migration system is not working. There is a lot of secondary immigration. If asylum seekers are rejected, their repatriation will not work. In Hungary, with transit zones, we have built a well-functioning system of legal rules and physical measures. We have succeeded in reducing illegal migration throughout Europe. The transit zones were closed to the Schengen area and open to secure third countries – in this case Serbia. We had to close the transit zones the most. But if there are asylum seekers whose application is rejected, we will not be able to send them home and they will be in the country illegally. This contradicts the principle of sovereignty enshrined in the Basic Law. But we will not allow illegal immigrants in this way either – the fortress of Hungary stands.
Is there still a conflict with EU law?
No, it is not a question of whether or not EU law should be applied. It is about the fact that EU law is not working effectively. We are seeing serious conditions on the Polish-Lithuanian border. This is a crisis situation in which decisions cannot be expected. Here, immediate action and creative solutions are needed on the part of sovereign nation-states. We are supporting the Polish border guards and providing in-kind assistance to Lithuania, where a fence is now being built. I welcome the political statements that are now in favor of building a fence, even though they have previously opposed it. It is completely irrational and morally questionable that Hungary is being threatened with fines and infringement proceedings, and precisely for the things that they are now doing to someone else. Hungary should also receive financial assistance for the construction of the fence. It has been recalculated to 1.6 billion and we have only recovered one percent so far. ”
Photo: Mandiner / Árpád Földházi