In a letter sent to European Commissioner Yvla Johansson on October 7, the Hungarian government expressed its desire to opt out of the EU Migration and Asylum Pact, following the example of the Netherlands.
“Hungary requests an opt-out from the European Union’s asylum and migration acquis should a Treaty amendment take place in the future and will initiate the appropriate procedures to this effect,” wrote János Bóka, Hungary’s Minister for European Union Affairs.
In a letter to @YlvaJohansson Hungary, like NL🇳🇱 requested opt-out from EU’s asylum & migration acquis should a Treaty amendment take place in the future & will initiate the appropriate procedures to this effect. At the same time, HU🇭🇺 remains committed to the Schengen Area. 1/2 pic.twitter.com/cvxUhBAKIB
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— Bóka János (@JanosBoka_HU) October 7, 2024
The Hungarian government believes that opting out of the pact will help them better manage the flow of migrants into their own country.
“Hungary believes that re-establishing a stronger national control over migration is now the only option to reach these objectives and effectively turn illegal immigration,” they wrote.
Hungary has said it remains committed to the Schengen zone, where countries have abolished border controls, but argues that the zone has been “fragmented.”
According to János Bóka, the Schengen Area “has become fragmented due to prolonged and widespread internal border controls introduced as a result of illegal migration and security threats.”
Indeed some European countries want to or have been reinstating border controls such as Germany, raising concerns about the future of the Schengen zone.
In September, the Hungarian Prime Minister remarked that “the era of free travel in Europe is over.”
However, Hungary’s request to regain more control over migration is likely to be rejected.
The European Commission has reiterated that the rules on asylum and migration remain binding for all member states, which includes Hungary and the Netherlands.
EU lawmakers passed the EU migration pact earlier this year in the hopes of better managing the pressures caused by illegal migration into the union.
The key point of the EU Migration and Asylum Pact resides in the “compulsory solidarity” within the member states.
Under the pact, if an EU nation is overwhelmed by an influx of migrants, the other member states are obliged to either relocate new arrivals to their territories or compensate € 20,000 for each migrant they turn away.
A request from the Dutch government for an opt-out from European migration rules is virtually impossible in the near future, according to the European Commission. https://t.co/yYLiiFA113
— Brussels Signal (@brusselssignal) September 19, 2024
