WORLD
Hungarian FM Szijjártó: Disintegration of Schengen system would have unforeseeable economic effects
Budapest, October 22, AZERTAC
The Schengen system may disintegrate, may simply cease to exist if the European Union is unable to protect its external borders, and this would have unforeseeable economic effects, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary, Péter Szijjártó, said at the event where the latest, 2015 country report of the Hungarian European Business Council was presented.
The MTI news agency reports that Péter Szijjártó pointed out: the flood of immigration represents the gravest challenge of all time for the European Union. This is effectively a modern-day mass migration which has inexhaustible reserves.
He highlighted: "we must talk about this frankly and honestly because the economic dimensions of immigration are extremely serious. There are some 30 to 35 million people living in the vicinity of the borders of Europe who are in a situation today which compels them to set out for Europe. If Europe is unable to regain its ability to protect its external borders – or to at least keep them under control – the question will arise sooner or later as to whether the Schengen zone is sustainable", he said.
The Schengen zone is based on the presumption that every country protects its external borders, and there is free movement within the protected external borders, Mr Szijjártó pointed out.
Regarding the economic dimensions of the migrant crisis, Mr Szijjártó described the issue of the sustainability of the economy as a „primary economic issue” from the viewpoint of Europe, in addition to the issue of energy security.
Parvana Garayeva
Special Correspondent