Thousands Leave Kosovo Seeking Asylum in EU

According to some media sources, the number of Kosovo Albanians trying to illegally enter the European Union was rising in early 2015. The Hungarian Police reported 880 people from Kosovo had been arrested on 1 February 2015 only and a total of around 4,400 in just a few days.

This immigrants were thought to move further West after a short stay in Hungary.

Hungarian prime minister Viktor Órban vowed to tackle the entry of asylum seekers in the country, as a reaction to these rising numbers. Hungary had adopted in the past a strict interpretaion of the refugee status, according to EUObserver, granting 400-500 asylum status a year.

ESO: Background information: Orban demonises immigrants at Paris march http://www.europeansources.info/record/orban-demonises-immigrants-at-paris-march/

Deutsche Welle, 09.02.15: Kosovo population drain challenges Germany's refugee policies http://dw.de/p/1EYPF

Reuters, 06.02.15: Hungary must 'shut its gates' faced with surge in migrants - official http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/02/06/us-hungary-immigrants-idUSKBN0LA15W20150206

Hungary Today, 09.02.15: Hungarian Police Detain Thousand Illegal Immigrants During A Single Day http://hungarytoday.hu/cikk/hungarian-police-detain-thousand-illegal-immigrants-single-day-27827

EUObserver, 11.02.15: Hungary wants stricter immigration rules amid hike in Kosovo migrants https://euobserver.com/beyond-brussels/127578

Euronews, 12.02.15: Serbia, Hungary demand help from EU to stem migrant ‘exodus’ from Kosovo http://www.euronews.com/2015/02/12/serbia-hungary-demand-help-from-eu-to-stem-migrant-exodus-from-kosovo/

EurActiv, 16.02.15: Poverty spurs mass migration from Kosovo http://www.euractiv.com/sections/global-europe/poverty-spurs-mass-migration-kosovo-312131

The Guardian, 17.02.15: Kosovans risk perils of roads, forests and criminals in chase for better life in EU http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/feb/17/kosovans-risk-perils-of-roads-forests-and-criminals-in-chase-for-better-life-in-eu

France24, 17.02.15: Video: Kosovo migrants flee poverty for better life in Europe http://www.france24.com/en/20150217-video-kosovo-migrants-flee-poverty-seek-better-life-european-union/

Deutsche Welle, 23.02.15: Kosovo-EU migration turns into political point scoring in Serbia http://dw.de/p/1EgIv

European Commission: DG Communication: RAPID: Statement/15/4564, 05.03.15: Joint statement by European Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship, Dimitris Avramopoulos and Serbian Minister of Interior, Nebojša Stefanović http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_STATEMENT-15-4564_en.htm

ESO: Information Guide: European Migration Challenges http://www.europeansources.info/record/information-guide-european-migration-challenges/

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