The “lack of effective action” on the EU’s part even endangers those who make the trek across the Mediterranean and those who live in Europe “and don’t want to have to worry about more terror threats”, he added.

If the EU finally decides to undertake a mission to protect Libya’s southern border or strengthen its coast guard, the government is prepared to enter into immediate talks on Hungary’s contributions to such efforts. The Visegrad Group countries share a common stance on this issue, the minister said.

Citing conservative estimates, Szijjártó said nearly 1,000 migrants cross Libya’s southern border each day in hopes of making it to Europe. Migrants cross the Mediterranean with the help of people smuggling rings, while NGOs helping rescue migrants from sea are believed to have assisted these organisations on certain occasions, he said.

Szijjártó said tens of thousands of people are endangered at sea on a daily basis, adding that Italy no longer has the capacity or patience to take in any more migrants.

he migration crisis has also hurt Europe’s security because of the increased threat of terrorism. Hungary’s government proposes that the EU should first and foremost scrap its mandatory migrant quota scheme, Szijjártó said, arguing that it is “unfit” to handle the migration crisis and only “aggravates” the situation.

Further, people smuggling networks should be broken up and the EU must prevent NGOs from helping people smugglers “regardless of whether or not this is their intention”. Finally, the EU should prevent boats carrying illegal migrants from leaving Libya’s shores or at the very least its waters, Szijjártó said.

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

MTI photo: KKM