The government still expects the European Commission to reimburse half the costs, Rogán told Kossuth Rádió. This would not be without precedent, he said, arguing that the European Union had contributed a significant amount of funds to Greece, Italy and Bulgaria’s border protection measures.

“Hungary acted before asking for help”, said Rogán. As quickly as it could, Hungary installed a fence on its southern border and trained and deployed some 3,000 “border-hunter” officers who are still serving on the border, he said. Rogán noted that protecting the external borders had cost Hungary 270 billion forints (EUR 883m).

“Of course, Brussels is refusing to pay for the fence out of principle,” the cabinet office chief said, but pointed out that the EC had contributed to the construction of Bulgaria’s border fence. Hungary, however, has incurred other migration-related expenditures, and the government is ready to discuss the matter with Brussels, he added.

On the subject of the European Court of Justice’s decision in the case launched by Slovakia and Hungary challenging the legality of the EU’s refugee resettlement scheme due next week, Rogán said he did not have high expectations for the ruling.

He said he believed the court would make a political decision rather than a legal one, arguing that the court “is under enormous political pressure”. Regardless of the court’s ruling, the government will not accept Brussels deciding who could be settled in Hungary, Rogán said, insisting that this was a national competency.

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

MTI photo: Varga György