Good News on Hungary
Newsletter of the Embassy of Hungary in Helsinki
No. 26/2015
28 August, 2015
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Every state has the right to protect its borders
Every sovereign state has the right and responsibility to protect its own borders and
accordingly we must take all permissible action against those who contravene European
norms in the interests of protecting the citizens of Hungary and the European Union, Minister
of Justice László Trócsányi declared.
The physical barrier, the fence that we are erecting along our Schengen border – providing it
does not interfere with border crossing stations – conforms to both European Union law and
the Schengen regulations because neither prevent a member state from equipping their
external borders with physical barriers, László Trócsányi told Hungarian news agency MTI on
28 August in Szeged.
In addition, preventing illegal border crossing and ensuring border crossing occurs only via
designated border crossing stations is an express requirement of Schengen law, he added. The
obligation to protect the country’s borders also conforms to the so-called Dublin III regulation
adopted by the EU. According to the Geneva Convention, which is the most significant source
for international asylum law, states cannot punish asylum seekers for illegally entering the
country if they arrive directly from countries in which their lives or freedom are in danger. It
follows from the text of the treaty that migrants arriving from Serbia cannot cite this
provision, since they are not in danger in Serbia, Mr. Trócsányi said.
National, international and European Union law must all be applied together. Failing to
protect our borders could endanger Hungary’s Schengen membership and the security of the
whole of Europe, the Minister stressed. And border security is not an end in itself, because as
the Schengen Borders Code also states: “Border control is in the interest not only of the
Member State at whose external borders it is carried out but of all Member States which have
abolished internal border control”, Minister Trócsányi stated in closing. (Ministry of Justice/MTI)
Hungary to play an active role in forming EU migration policy
Hungary intends to play an active role in forming the European Union’s new migration
policy, but the Government needs to take steps of its own before the new rules are finalised,
Minister of Justice László Trócsányi told news portal szegedma.hu on 24 August 2015.
Hungary is at the sharp end of the European field when it comes to calling for strict measures
to halt illegal migration, the Minister said, adding that Hungary “wants to have its voice heard
when it is time to put together the European Union’s new migration policy.”
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Minister Trócsányi noted that the EU does not have a common policy for dealing with the
migrant crisis, and certain Member States face greater migration pressure than others. The 28
Member States will have to come to a compromise concerning the EU’s new policy, “which
will not be easy,” the Minister said.
Referring to the temporary border barrier Hungary is constructing on its border with Serbia to
stem the flow of illegal migrants, Minister Trócsányi said the country was forced to act as the
migrant crisis “has created an emergency situation in the region.” The Minister emphasised
Hungary’s borders should only be crossed at the legal points of entries because “having 1,500
people entering the country illegally on a daily basis is unacceptable.”
Minister Trócsányi noted that an extraordinary session of the Hungarian Parliament will be
held in September to amend the Penal Code by introducing stricter rules on illegal migration.
(Ministry of Justice)
Upcoming new legislation to protect Hungary’s southern border
“Parliament could amend several pieces of legislation at its extraordinary session next week,
at which the General Assembly will review the steps taken so far to protect the country’s
southern border and discuss further action”, Minister of Prime Minister’s Office János Lázár
announced at a press conference on Thursday.
The Minister of Prime Minister’s Office indicated that he had asked Speaker of the House
László Kövér to convene emergency meetings of the Parliamentary Committees on Defence
and Law Enforcement, and National Security, during which MPs will be briefed by the
relevant Ministries and representatives of the secret services.
Then later, during its extraordinary session on Thursday and Friday, Members of Parliament
will decide on the tightening of the Penal Code, including the introduction of new case
bearings, stricter punishments for human trafficking, supplementing current extradition
regulations and the amendment of regulations on the confiscation of assets in the case of
human traffickers.
The Government is also calling for the amendment of the Act on Penal Procedure to enable
the swiftest possible procedures against people who perform crimes related to immigration,
Mr. Lázár said, who also suggested amendments to legislation concerning the right to asylum
and the code of civil procedure. The Government also plans to introduce new regulations on
transit zones, he added.
Minister Lázár also said that in view of the events of the past 48 hours, the Cabinet believes
that the Hungarian Defence Force will also have to be involved in protecting the country’s
southern border. Codification work on the required legal conditions is underway, but he
believes no constitutional amendment will be necessary, Mr. Lázár continued. As many police
officers as possible must also be on duty along the Hungarian-Serbian border. This week, the
Government will also be hiring an international agency to inform citizens in transit countries,
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and probably also countries of origin, about the fact that Hungary is constructing a security
fence along its southern border, he also told the press. The estimated cost of the campaign is
several million euros, he added.
“If the Government does not take action to protect the country’s southern border – in
conjunction with the National Assembly – then the number of people who enter Hungary with
a view to reaching Western Europe could reach 300 thousand by the end of the year”, Mr.
Lázár pointed out, adding that according to a report by the Serbian authorities, 6-8 thousand
illegal immigrants are expected to arrive at the Hungarian border within the next few days
alone.
According to the Minister, the Government is not in an easy situation because “pressure from
immigrants trying to enter the country along the southern border is strong and increasingly
aggressive”. (Prime Minister’s Office)
Hungary’s participation in Baltic Air Policing an important task
Speaking at a ceremony held on Kecskemét Air Base on Monday, 17 August, Minister of
Defence Csaba Hende stated that the Hungary’s participation in the Baltic Air Policing
mission is an important task. During the event, the contingent was bidden farewell before
leaving for a four-month mission on 27 August.
The ceremony was attended, among others, by Ambassador of the United States Colleen Bell.
Minister of Defence Csaba Hende emphasized that as a member of NATO, Hungary is
committed to the development of its armed forces, so that beyond defending itself, it can
contribute to common defence as well. These days the Baltic airspace has become the most
complex airspace in Europe and perhaps in NATO as a whole, the Minister said referring to
the tense international situation due to the crisis in Ukraine.
The Hungarian quick reaction alert (QRA) unit is going to deploy four Gripen fighter planes
to Siauliai Air Base in Lithuania and will be flying its missions from there for four months.
The number of personnel to be deployed in several rotations is over 100, most of them serve
at the HDF 59th “Dezső Szentgyörgyi” Air Base in Kecskemét. (Ministry of Defence)
Hungary supports Tallinn declaration on totalitarian regimes
On 23 August 2015 the Hungarian State Secretary for Justice said that Hungary supports the
Tallinn declaration calling for the establishment of a supranational institution to investigate
and prosecute state crimes, including those of communist regimes.
Secretary of State Róbert Répássy took part in a conference marking the European Day of
Remembrance for the Victims of Stalinism and Nazism, attended by representatives from the
Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Hungary, Lithuania, Poland and Portugal. Signatories to
the document expressed support for standing up together against totalitarian regimes,
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irrespective of their ideological foundations or the form they take. He said that it was declared
that the victims of totalitarian crimes have the right to justice, noting that in certain countries
the practice of investigating and prosecuting the crimes committed by communist regimes has
been insufficient and inconsistent.
The participants also declared that the competence of the existing supranational courts fails to
include the investigation of past crimes committed by communist regimes and the punishment
of perpetrators. “The signatories find it necessary to investigate the possibility of setting up an
international institution specialising in investigating the crimes of totalitarian regimes –
including communism – similar to the one investigating and punishing the perpetrators of
Nazi crimes”, said Secretary of State Répássy.
Signatories call on the governments of all European countries to provide both moral and
material support for the investigation of the history of totalitarian regimes and promoting the
presentation of results of such investigations, thus preventing the manipulation of historical
facts. Secretary of State Répássy said that the Tallinn declaration has created “a historic
opportunity” for exposing communist-era crimes, and for calling perpetrators to account.
(Ministry of Justice)
Employment in Hungary hit new high in Q2 2015
As the latest report of the Hungarian Central Statistical Office (KSH) shows, the number of
people in employment has been above the 4 million mark for one-and-a-half years in
Hungary. In May-July 2015, the number of those aged 15-74 years in employment grew by
139 thousand, to 4 million 224 thousand year-on-year. Thus, this indicator has reached a 23year peak and the number of people in employment is more than 500 thousand higher than in
2010, at the change of Government. The unemployment rate declined further, to 6.8 percent,
the best figure in 11 years.
The employment rate of those aged 15-64 years improved by 2.6 percentage points year-onyear, to 64.1 percent. Indicators improved for both men and women. The employment rate of
men aged 15-64 years was up by 3.1 percentage points, to 70.6 percent. The same indicator
for women was 2.1 percentage points higher, reaching a new high of 57.8 percent.
Concurrently, the unemployment rate edged down by 1.1 percentage point.
The Government’s active employment policy has been instrumental for steadily improving
labour market statistics. Recent excellent macro-economic data also signal employment
growth that in turn will have a favourable impact on the budget and household consumption.
(Ministry for National Economy)
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