Hungary PM wants 3-billion euro migrant aid plan

By: 9 years ago

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban answers a question during a press conference following the Visegrad Group summit on migration in Prague, Friday, Sept. 4 2015. Luxembourgs foreign minister has criticized the prime minister of Hungary for saying the migrant crisis in Europe was really “a German problem. Jean Asselborn told German television station ZDF that one sometimes has to be ashamed for Viktor Orban. Orbans comments Friday prompted outrage in Germany, which has seen the seen the biggest number of asylum applications of any European country this year. AP

BERLIN, Germany—Hungary’s prime minister, whose country is under fire for its perceived harsh treatment of migrants, wants Europe to give three billion euros aid to Syria’s neighbors to help stem the flow of refugees, it was reported Saturday.

READ: Hungary strongman ‘between rock and hard place’ in migrant crisis

In an interview with German newspaper Bild, Viktor Orban said he wants the European Union to give the money to Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan, the first ports of call for Syrians trying to escape conflict.

“We have a plan, which I will present to the heads of the European Union at our next meeting (to provide) massive financial support to countries neighboring Syria,” he said, according to excerpts of the interview released by the newspaper.

Millions of people have been displaced by Syria’s four-year war, with many given refuge in camps in neighboring countries.

But an increasing number are now flowing into Europe, where authorities are struggling to cope with the biggest movement of people since World War II.

Orban has taken a hard line against the thousands of migrants passing through Hungary.

Riot police have been deployed to control crowds and footage from inside refugee camps has revealed harsh conditions.

Hungary this week increased the number of soldiers building its controversial anti-migrant border fence, as the numbers of people crossing from Serbia hit a new record.

Orban has stood firm on the implementation of harsh new laws which could see migrants jailed for entering Hungary starting Tuesday.

“If it takes more money, we will increase aid until the refugee flows are drying up,” Orban told the paper.

“These migrants do not come from war zones but from camps (in these border countries), where they were safe.

“They are not fleeing danger—they have already fled and should not fear for their lives.

They come to Europe not “because they seek safety but because they want a better life than in a camp. They want a German life, perhaps a Swedish life.”

“But it’s a fact: there is no fundamental right to a better life, only a right to security and human dignity,” he said.