Despite a European Court of Justice ruling, Hungary continues to deport migrants to Serbia, SCEPTR reports.
According to the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights, Hungary continues to expel people. Hungary has warned in the past that despite the top EU court’s ruling, it would continue to defend its borders.
“The Fidesz-KDNP parliamentary majority and the government will do everything in its power to maintain the [border] fence, live military and police patrols and keep the transit zones operational,” said Hungarian State Secretary of the Defense Ministry Szilárd Németh in May of last year.
Pro-migrant groups are signalling their outrage that Hungary continues to stop illegal migration flows despite Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán being elected on platform that emphasized strong border security and strict immigration controls.
“The fact that the Hungarian border police are still deporting people a month after the ruling of the European Court of Justice is a clear violation of the law. It is scandalous that this continues,” says Andras Lederer of the non-profit organization.
More than 3,000 migrants have not been allowed to apply for asylum in Hungary and have been deported to Serbia, writes Het Laatste Nieuws.
On Dec. 17, the European Court of Justice wrote that due to its strict policy concerning migrants who try to enter the European Union without valid documents, Hungary renounces its European obligations.
Among other things, the court criticized Hungary’s policy on granting international protection and the return of migrants.
For example, the judges in Luxembourg consider the Hungarian return policy to be contrary to EU law. Hungarian police officers transferring migrants across borders is, thus, viewed as unlawful, with Hungary violating the EU return policy.
