The example of Spain shows that illegal immigration must be stopped not only by land but also by sea, Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó said in Madrid after meeting with Santiago Abascal, leader of the Spanish right-wing Vox party, in Madrid.
Following the discussion, the Hungarian foreign minister highlighted that Spain has been under severe migratory pressure in recent years, and that the number of illegal immigrants from Africa to southern Europe has increased by 50 percent so far this year. According to the minister, therefore, all resources must be mobilized in order to relieve the European area from migratory pressure along the sea route.
As he said, the best way to do this is if illegal immigrants are not even able to board the ships that transport them to the southern shores of the continent, so cooperation with North African countries is extremely important. He added that the stability of the states in the region is an important European interest in halting migratory flows.
“Border protection, the screening of terrorists and the fight against human traffickers are among the most important European tasks now,” Szijjártó said.
The foreign minister also pointed out that economic cooperation between Hungary and Spain was “becoming more and more dynamic.” Bilateral trade has grown by 20 percent so far this year and is expected to reach €5 billion by the end of the year, he said.
Szijjártó also met his Spanish counterpart, José Manuel Albares, on Thursday.
