On Monday 9 September, Belgium’s State Secretary for Asylum, Nicole de Moor, called on Member States to “work together for a fair, humane and effective migration policy”.
She was reacting to the Hungarian government’s announcements on the same day that it would be sending irregular migrants to Brussels, in response to the €200 million fine imposed in June by the Court of Justice of the European Union in relation to Hungary’s asylum system (see EUROPE 13474/13).
The country has failed to comply with several provisions of the 2008 and 2013 directives on common standards and procedures for returning illegally staying third-country nationals and on common procedures for granting and withdrawing international protection.
Taking the view that the EU does not permit Budapest to combat irregular migratory flows, the government will “then offer those illegal migrants who so wish a free one-way ticket to Brussels”, said the spokesperson for the Hungarian Interior Minister.
“Unilaterally shifting responsibility through threats of this kind undermines solidarity and cooperation within the Union. Belgium continues to advocate for a joint, coordinated policy, in which respect for European values and international obligations is central”, added the State Secretary. The mayor of the City of Brussels, Philippe Close, denounced this as a provocation. “We are going to do everything we can to block these coaches at the border”, he assured.
The European Commission was contacted but had not yet commented at the time of going to press. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)