Szijjártó on introduction of temporary Slovak border controls: it's Brussels' fault

Brussels alone is to blame for the increasing migratory pressure in Central Europe, as keeping mandatory resettlement quotas on the agenda serves as a magnet for illegal immigrants and supports the business model of people smugglers, Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said in response to the news that Slovakia is introducing temporary border controls along its border with Hungary, MTI reports.

"This is because Brussels encourages migration and supports the business model of people smugglers by constantly pushing for mandatory resettlement quotas, which attract migrants to Europe like a magnet. If there is a mandatory resettlement quota, then migrants can be told to set off, and once they get in, they will be distributed and will from then on be allowed to stay," Szijjártó said.

“We are calling on Brussels to abandon this migration policy immediately. They should stop keeping mandatory resettlement quotas on the agenda, stop inviting migrants here, stop supporting the business model of people smugglers.”

Slovakia's temporary border controls will be in place beginning this Thursday along the entire Slovak-Hungarian border until 14 October. The 10-day measure may be extended.

Illegal migrants have recently been entering Slovakia in vast numbers from Hungary. We reported from the villages in southern Slovakia most affected by the migration wave in this article.