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Migrant crisis: Hungary challenges EU quota plan in court | Migrant crisis: Hungary challenges EU quota plan in court |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Hungary says it has filed a court challenge against a European Union plan to distribute refugees among the bloc's member states. | Hungary says it has filed a court challenge against a European Union plan to distribute refugees among the bloc's member states. |
The challenge was submitted to the European Court of Justice. | |
Meanwhile, a migrant believed to be from Morocco has been electrocuted at the Greece-Macedonia border. | |
The man died after climbing onto the roof of a train carriage and touching an overhead cable during scuffles, local police said. | |
Macedonian authorities have only been letting in Syrians, Iraqis and Afghans who are fleeing conflict, sparking protests from groups of Pakistanis, Iranians and Moroccans. | |
Tear gas was fired on Thursday as police unsuccessfully moved to clear a border crossing blocked by those groups, BBC Europe correspondent Chris Morris reports. | |
He estimates some 5,000 people are now stuck at the border, including 43 busloads of Syrians, Iraqis and Afghans who arrived overnight. | |
In Hungary national newspapers on Thursday carried full-page government adverts attacking an EU refugee relocation plan. | |
EU interior ministers approved the plan for mandatory quotas to distribute 120,000 refugees in September, despite opposition from several states. | EU interior ministers approved the plan for mandatory quotas to distribute 120,000 refugees in September, despite opposition from several states. |
Slovakia filed a similar court challenge on Wednesday. | Slovakia filed a similar court challenge on Wednesday. |
One message printed in newspaper read: "The quota increases the terror threat!" | |
A nationwide campaign against the plan is set to see billboards going up exhorting Hungarians to "defend the country", according to AFP. | A nationwide campaign against the plan is set to see billboards going up exhorting Hungarians to "defend the country", according to AFP. |
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has drawn criticism from other EU leaders for his hardline comments on Muslim migrants. | Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has drawn criticism from other EU leaders for his hardline comments on Muslim migrants. |
Who is Viktor Orban? | Who is Viktor Orban? |
Announcing the court challenge on Thursday, he said it was "not enough to protest [the EU plan], action must be taken". | Announcing the court challenge on Thursday, he said it was "not enough to protest [the EU plan], action must be taken". |
Under the EU system, Hungary and Slovakia are each expected to receive some 2,300 people. | |
Both countries, in addition to the Czech Republic and Romania, voted against the proposal in September. | Both countries, in addition to the Czech Republic and Romania, voted against the proposal in September. |
The scheme applies only to refugees most in need of international protection - not economic migrants. | The scheme applies only to refugees most in need of international protection - not economic migrants. |
Hungary was originally considered one of the "frontline" states in the migrant crisis and the plan would have seen 54,000 refugees relocated from its territory. | Hungary was originally considered one of the "frontline" states in the migrant crisis and the plan would have seen 54,000 refugees relocated from its territory. |
However due to its rejection of the plan, that number will instead be transferred from Italy and Greece, and Hungary has to accept a quota of refugees. | However due to its rejection of the plan, that number will instead be transferred from Italy and Greece, and Hungary has to accept a quota of refugees. |
The scheme was announced in response to the European migrant crisis which has seen tens of thousands heading through the Balkans in the hope of reaching Germany and Scandinavia. |