The article notes that there are at least 1,000 Syrian and Afghan migrants in Sweden who arrived there via the western Balkans route, passing through Hungary. They were registered as asylum seekers in Hungary and under the Dublin Agreement, that is where their asylum requests have to be assessed, Sydsvenskan quoted Johansson as saying. According to the portal, Johansson had also held talks with Hungary’s ambassador to Sweden.

Szijjártó reacted by saying that the Swedish migration minister had realised that his country had “made a huge error” when it implemented migration policies that inspired migrants to come to Europe. Szijjártó said the minister was now trying to make Hungary suffer the consequences of his country’s “flawed policies” by “organising a front” to force thousands of migrants onto Hungary.

Szijjártó called this move “un-European”, and said it was “reminiscent of the past century”. He said he “cannot imagine” why the Swedish minister would be confused by the “clear regulation” that says that illegal migrants have to be sent back to the country through which they first entered the European Union.

In the case of migrants arriving from the Middle East and north Africa, this is not Hungary, Szijjártó said, stressing that Hungary will not take back migrants from those areas. Szijjártó accused Johansson of being hypocritical in his policies, arguing that while Sweden promotes a liberal immigration policy, it wants to send migrants away once they are there.

Republished with permission of Hungary Matters, MTI’s daily newsletter.

MTI photo: Varga György