Zoltán Kovács said in a statement that the Hungarian government “most firmly rejects Martin Schulz’s declaration” made in an interview to Brussels-based news outlet Politico.

Schulz suggested that if Hungary did not take in migrants as part of the bloc’s quota system it should not receive EU funding. Kovács said that Schulz should concentrate on his own domestic political problems rather than on Hungary given his three election losses over the past four months.

The spokesman said the Hungarian standpoint on illegal migration and EU cohesion funding had “nothing to do with each other”.

These are two completely different systems, he said, adding that linking them together amounted to “political blackmail” which Hungary would not countenance.

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

Photo: kormany.hu