Hungary refuses to allow migrants registered here to return

The Hungarian government plans to make it very clear to other countries of the European Union (EU) that it will not allow the return of migrants registered in Hungary, an official said Thursday.

These people all entered the EU through Greece, which had been responsible for registering them, but failed to do so, the chief of the prime minister's office, Janos Lazar, told a news conference.

Greece "did not play by the rules," Lazar added, and Hungary refuses to allow itself to be punished for Greece's negligence.

Under EU rules, migrants are required to register in the first EU country they enter and to apply for asylum in that country. If they travel on to another country before the decision is made they can be forcibly returned to the first country, i.e.: the country where they were registered.

Lazar told the news conference that other EU countries are seeking to return 45,000 people to Hungary. In all, Hungary registered 179,000 people.

Hungary accepted over 21,000 asylum applications this year, he said, adding that the registrants have declared where they entered the EU.

Lazar also reported that the Hungarian government is ready to discuss an emergency decree on migration that neighboring Austria plans to introduce, to facilitate border traffic between the two countries.

Austria plans to allow in 37,500 migrants under that decree, to take effect in a month or two. Hungary's interior minister, said Lazar, has set up a committee to discuss how to most easily handle border traffic with Austria.

Meanwhile, he added, Hungary is going ahead with plans for a referendum on whether to allow any migrants whatsoever to settle in Hungary.

The referendum is envisaged for September or October. Endit