Outrage in Belgium

Hungary: free buses for migrants to Brussels

Hungary's Deputy Interior Minister Bence Rétvári presented the buses he intends to use to transport migrants to Belgium to the media.(Bild: APA/MTVA - Médiaszolgáltatás-támogató és Vagyonkezelõ Alap)

In response to a million-euro fine for violating EU asylum regulations, Hungary has announced that it will offer "illegal migrants a one-way trip to Brussels" voluntarily and free of charge. Deputy Interior Minister Bence Rétvári presented several buses with the sign "Röszke - Brussels".

Belgium reacted indignantly to Hungary's announcement. The plan of the government in Budapest was "unacceptable", said the Belgian State Secretary for Asylum and Migration, Nicole de Moor, on Monday.

Hungary's Deputy Minister of the Interior, Bence Rétvári, presented the buses with which he wants to bring migrants to Belgium to the media.(Bild: APA/MTVA - Médiaszolgáltatás-támogató és Vagyonkezelõ Alap)

Hungary issued a record fine
The coaches that the State Secretary presented for his plan bore the sign "Röszke - Brussels". Röszke is a place at a border crossing with Serbia through which migrants enter the country. With this action, the Hungarian government wants to respond to a record fine of 200 million euros that the European Court of Justice imposed on the country in June for violations of EU asylum law.

The government in Budapest described the fine as "completely unjust" - and announced that it would not pay the sum. If Hungary actually refuses to pay, the EU Commission can withhold certain subsidies.

A whole fleet of buses was organized for the media event.(Bild: APA/MTVA - Media Service Support and Asset Management Fund)

"If Brussels wants them, it will get them"
At the presentation of the buses on Friday, Retvari said that the EU wanted to "force Hungary to let the illegal immigrants we are stopping at the country's southern border into the country". He continued: "Well, after applying European procedural rules, we will offer them a free ride to Brussels". At the same time, he added: "If Brussels wants them, it will get them."

The Belgian State Secretary for Asylum, Nicole de Moor, said on Monday in response to the announcement from Hungary that "audacity of this kind" was "harmful and counterproductive". They undermine "solidarity and cooperation within the EU" and are a "blatant violation of European and international agreements".

Hungary had already announced a similar action in August. At the time, the EU Commission stated that it was used to "loud announcements of this kind from Hungary".