BULGARIA’S PM BORISSOV AND HUNGARIA’S PM ORBAN DISCUSSED SECURITY IN EUROPE AND MIGRANT CRISIS

Addressing the issue of migrant crisis and ensuring security in Europe were the topics of the talks between the Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov and his Hungarian counterpart Viktor Orban on 29th of January.

Orban arrived on a visit to Sofia on 28th of January.

"I continue to believe that we can at least take one step forward and immediately close the EU external borders until the issues with the arrived migrants are solved”, Borissov said after the talks.

He noted the recent trend in some European countries of returning thousands of migrants. ”I hope we can start to be more honest with the migrants because this influx cannot last forever, with corridors through Greece, Macedonia, Serbia or to the north in Europe. And when they arrive at their final destination they have spent all their money and then get sent back. This is even more inhumane than not letting them in and imposing rules", Borissov commented.

He also spoke about the importance of having common European positions.

He said that when a country took care of its people it also took care of European solidarity.

Prime Minister Orban said it was wrong that Brussels did not recognize the accomplishments of Bulgaria on its way to Schengen entry. “It is not fair that new requirements are put, that the best results, which Bulgaria has achieved in dealing with the migrant crisis, do not get recognition”, he added. “There is a stress test for all countries that are on the migrant route and Bulgaria passed the test much better than the European banks. It turns out that Bulgaria delivers on its commitments; it can protect its borders from smugglers and migrants", Orban said.

According to Orban, if Europe wants to be fair, it should offer Schengen membership to Bulgaria. “It is a different question whether a country would consider it worth accepting an invitation to join an institution which is dying. And Bulgarian people must think about this”, he added.

The Hungarian Prime Minister said that the migrant crisis reached a turning point. “Until recently, this mass migration was treated as an economic and cultural issue but for weeks now it has been a matter of security - not of culture, money or social networks - because it concerns our daily safety”, Orban added. He remarked that the terrorist threat was increasing and public order was worsening. “European people are under a threat, especially the weaker: women and those who cannot protect themselves, and this is unacceptable”,  Orban said.

He said that the issue of migration is a security issue and added that politicians were elected to protect their citizens. “Politicians in an increasing number of countries have become unable to fulfill this duty. It is good to have discussions about the principles but now is the time to protect people, not the principles, but to protect the people from the terrorist threat and crime," Orban said.

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