| Author (Corporate) | BBC |
|---|---|
| Series Title | BBC News |
| Series Details | 11.09.15 |
| Publication Date | 11/09/2015 |
| Content Type | News |
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Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban warned on the 11 September 2015 that tougher immigration laws would take effect from 15 September 2015 and anyone crossing the border illegally could expect to be arrested. Hungary had also built a controversial fence on its border with Serbia to keep migrants out. Officials estimated that 175,000 migrants had crossed from Serbia into Hungary from January-September 2015, putting significant strain on Hungary's resources and creating tensions. More than 4,000 people walked across the border with Serbia on the 12 September 2015. Mr Orban said that €3bn in aid should be delivered to Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan to stop the stream of refugees to Europe. Hungary protested at comments by Austrian Chancellor Werner Faymann who criticised what he described as Orban's 'deliberate policy of deterrence', comparing it to policies under the Nazi regime. On 15 September 2015, adding to the new rules implemented by the Hungarian government, the state of emergency was declared in the country's two southern counties which share the border with Serbia. Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland wrote to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán on the 15 September 2015 about the new legislation adopted in the context of the migration crisis. 'I am concerned about a series of recent amendments to legislation in Hungary which will, among other things, allow the Government to declare a ‘state of crisis’ caused by mass immigration'. Also, on the 15 September 2015, Hungary announced that it would build a fence on part of its border with Romania. The move came as Budapest sealed its Serbian border in response to the refugee crisis. In an an interview published in a German and French newspaper on the 17 September 2015 Mr Orban said a fence would also be built on the border with Croatia. The situation further worsened on the 16 September 2015 when riot police from Hungary tried to repel migrants attempting to break through the razor-wire fence from Serbia into Hungary by firing tear gas and water cannon. The Hungarian government informed Serbia that it had temporarily closed the Roszke-Horgos border crossing for 30 days. Serbia’s prime minister Aleksandar Vucic accused Hungary of 'brutal' and 'non-European' behaviour and urged the European Union to respond. Germany's Defence Minister Ursula von Der Leyen said 'This is not acceptable and this is against the European rules that we have. Therefore it is very important that we stick to the respect [where] human dignity and human rights are concerned'. UNHCR also criticised developments in Hungary. |
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| Source Link | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-34224999 |
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| Subject Categories | Justice and Home Affairs |
| Countries / Regions | Croatia, Hungary, Serbia |
