Border fence to stop illegal migrants
June 18th, 2015Népszava agrees with left-wing politicians who accuse the government of building a new Iron Curtain, by planning to build a fence along the border with Serbia to prevent migrants from crossing into Hungary. Napi Gazdaság argues that Europe must fortify its outer borders if it does not want to be overwhelmed.
In Népszava, Róbert Friss admits that the government will not violate international law by erecting a fence along its southern border. He mentions several international examples, built by Bulgaria, Spain and Israel (but not the fence along the border between Mexico and the United States). But he also likens the planned fence to the Iron Curtain that Hungary demolished 26 years ago along its border with Austria. He agrees with Foreign Minister Péter Szíjjártó in considering the current migration wave a grave challenge, but thinks that Hungary should try to promote a joint European solution.
In Napi Gazdaság, Zoltán Kottász remarks that after having done practically nothing about the massive influx of migrants from the south for many years, several European countries are getting nervous about what he calls an irresistible wave of migration. Austria and France have sent back migrants to Italy, and with elections coming up in Denmark, Danish parties are outbidding each other in their plans to curb immigration. Internal European borders, however, should be kept open, Kottász argues. What should have been bolstered for a long time is the security of Europe’s outer borders. He asks whether Europe has finally realised that a new stage has begun in its history which requires new reactions.