Hungary empowers military to act against refugees

Author (Corporate)
Series Title
Series Details 21.09.15
Publication Date 21/09/2015
Content Type

Hungary's parliament agreed on 21 September 2015 to grant extended powers to the army and police dealing with the migrants and refugees. The new legislation was passed with overwhelming support and allows the army to take part in border controls, restrict civil liberties and use 'coercive weapons designed to cause bodily harm, although in a non-lethal way, unless it cannot be avoided.'

Following the decision by the national parliament, liberal ALDE group in the European Parliament called for the activation of the procedure of article 7 of the Treaty on the European Union against Hungary. This article stipulates that serious breaches to the values of human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights by a member state can result in a suspension or loss of voting rights in the Council of the European Union.

Prime minister Viktor Orbán visited Bavaria a few days later, where it was met with praise by the regional government for his attitutde, but also with fury by many citizens and the German federal government.

Source Link Link to Main Source http://dw.com/p/1Ga8O
Related Links
ESO: Background information: Europe migrant crisis: Hungary 'will arrest illegal migrants' / Germany says Hungary’s use of tear gas is ‘not acceptable’ http://www.europeansources.info/record/europe-migrant-crisis-hungary-will-arrest-illegal-migrants-germany-says-hungarys-use-of-tear-gas-is-not-acceptable/
BBC News, 21.09.15: Hungary PM Orban: Europe borders threatened by migrants http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-34311254
Euronews, 21.09.15: Hungary’s army can shoot rubber bullets and tear gas at refugees http://www.euronews.com/2015/09/21/hungary-s-army-can-shoot-rubber-bullets-and-tear-gas-at-refugees/
Hungary Today, 22.09.15: Hungarian Governing Parties Gain Strength Amid Immigration Crisis, Latest Poll Reveals http://hungarytoday.hu/news/hungarian-governing-parties-gain-strength-amid-immigration-crisis-latest-poll-reveals-34134
Hungary Today, 22.09.15: General-In-Chief: Hungary’s Army Ready To Protect Country’s Borders http://hungarytoday.hu/news/general-chief-hungarys-army-ready-protect-countrys-borders-68020
The Independent, 21.09.15: Refugee crisis: Hungary's parliament passes law allowing army to use rubber bullets, tear gas grenades and net guns against refugees http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/refugee-crisis-hungarys-parliament-passes-law-allowing-army-to-use-rubber-bullets-tear-gas-grenades-and-net-guns-against-refugees-10511463.html
EurActiv, 24.09.15: Orbán's Bavarian visit widely criticised http://www.euractiv.com/sections/social-europe-jobs/orbans-bavarian-visit-widely-criticised-317934
Politico, 23.09.15: Viktor Orbán, Bavaria’s hardline hero http://www.politico.eu/article/viktor-orban-bavaria-hardline-hero-seehofer-migration-borders/
ESO: Information Guide: European Migration Challenges http://www.europeansources.info/record/information-guide-european-migration-challenges/
EUObserver, 09.10.15: France wants all travelling EU nationals fingerprinted https://euobserver.com/migration/130656

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