The EU’s “ill-advised” migration policy now jeopardises unity, since “the British referendum was obviously influenced” by that policy and yielded an “undesired” result, Szijjártó said.

The Brexit referendum has “shocked” the continent, but that shock should also awaken the community and its institutions to the fact that the EU’s policies, and especially those concerning migration, cannot be continued, the minister said.

Concerning Hungary’s upcoming referendum on migrant quotas Szijjártó repeated the government’s position that it was such an important issue that voters must be consulted. Referring to proposals by US financier George Soros concerning migration the foreign minister said it was “appalling” that a businessman should suggest that “EU institutions should cut funding from Europeans, moreover central Europeans, to finance illegal entrants to the EU.”

Implementing those proposals would deprive Hungary of billions of euros, Szijjártó insisted, and added “no, thank you”. Central Europe will not accept a proposal under which “funds targeted at us” should be cut “to finance illegal migrants”, he said.

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

MTI photo: Szigetváry Zsolt