While Hungary has spent more than 1.6 billion euros on border protection since the outbreak of the migrant crisis, the EU contribution to these costs barely exceeds one percent.
Mihály Varga sent a harsh message to the European Commission, in which he called on the EU body to reimburse Hungary's border protection costs, because we protect not only our country, but the entire continent.
The protection of the common borders of the European Union is based on a consensus that goes back many decades - said the head of the ministry in an open letter published on his social media page. The essence of the original legislative idea was that the member states located at the external borders of the community provide for the protection of the borders from common funding.
However, the migration crisis has now resulted in a situation in which the original legislative intent is not fully fulfilled, Mihály Varga pointed out.
Since 2015, Hungary has thwarted one million illegal border crossings on the southern, Schengen border section of the country. Migration pressure is increasing, this year alone the Hungarian border guards have already taken action against a hundred thousand illegal migrants.
All of this puts an increasing burden on the national budget: while we have spent more than 1.6 billion euros on border protection since the outbreak of the migrant crisis, the EU contribution to these costs barely exceeds 1 percent.
In response to the increase in migration, Hungary adapted to the changed situation and successfully stopped illegal immigration.
"Hungary fulfills its obligations, so it currently protects the entire European Union against illegal immigration. We would consider it fair and equitable if the European Commission recognized this effort and took an appropriate share in financing the increased costs of Schengen border protection tasks in Hungary," the minister stated.
Hungary has defended Europe's borders countless times throughout history.
"And today, as a member of an association, the European Union, we do the same. In the big cities of Europe, we can now experience public security challenges related to migration on a daily basis. Along the Hungarian borders, the use of sharp weapons by migrants has become a daily routine," added the finance minister.
The protection of the borders is therefore becoming more and more important, now also from the perspective of the residents of the EU's big cities.
"We consider it to be expected that in the spirit of joint burden-bearing, due to the changed tasks, the funds will also be corrected. The purpose of my letter is to draw the Commissioner's attention to the lack of this. For this reason, and in order to meet the requirements set out in points 23 d) and e) of the Conclusion of the European Council of February 9, 2023, I ask you to take the necessary steps to eliminate the presented funding disproportionalities," the letter states.
Cover image: The security border barrier on the Hungarian-Serbian border near Röszke on June 6, 2023.
Source: MTI/Tibor Rosta
