Hungary urged to comply with asylum rules

Hungary’s new legislation allowing for the placement of all asylum-seekers in border container camps has come into effect.

But the European Union’s commissioner for migration saying that it needs to comply with the bloc’s rules.

Dimitris Avramopoulos said that EU and Hungarian experts will meet to discuss the new law, which has been sharply criticised by UN agencies and human rights advocates.

The legislation is meant to complement the fences built by Hungary in 2015 and this year on the borders with Serbia and Croatia. The barriers have drastically reduced the number of migrants able to pass through the country on their way to Germany and other destinations in Western Europe.

“We decided to work together through our experts and ensure that EU rules also are complied with,” Mr Avramopoulos said after meeting with Hungarian officials.

“The European principles have been jointly and unanimously agreed by all member states and should therefore be respected and implemented by everyone, too.”

“This implies giving effective access to the asylum procedure while fighting against abuses, but also ensuring a fair review of decisions,” the commissioner added.