This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-33168125
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Hungary to build barrier to keep out migrants | Hungary to build barrier to keep out migrants |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Hungary says that it will build a fence along its border with Serbia to keep out migrants. | Hungary says that it will build a fence along its border with Serbia to keep out migrants. |
| Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said that officials had been told to prepare a plan for a barrier along the frontier, stretching 175km (109 miles). | Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said that officials had been told to prepare a plan for a barrier along the frontier, stretching 175km (109 miles). |
| He added that Hungary could not afford to wait for the EU to find a solution to immigration. | He added that Hungary could not afford to wait for the EU to find a solution to immigration. |
| There has been a sharp rise in the number of migrants and asylum seekers entering Hungary. | There has been a sharp rise in the number of migrants and asylum seekers entering Hungary. |
| The government said about 54,000 migrants entered the country so far this year, compared to 43,000 people in 2014. | The government said about 54,000 migrants entered the country so far this year, compared to 43,000 people in 2014. |
| 'Physical closure' | |
| Police registered 10,000 people illegally going over the border in January alone. | Police registered 10,000 people illegally going over the border in January alone. |
| However, tens of thousands of Hungarians have also been leaving the country. | However, tens of thousands of Hungarians have also been leaving the country. |
| "Immigration is one of the most serious problems facing the European Union today," Mr Szijjarto told a press conference on Wednesday. | "Immigration is one of the most serious problems facing the European Union today," Mr Szijjarto told a press conference on Wednesday. |
| "We are talking about a stretch of border 175 km long, whose physical closure can happen with a four-metre high fence. The interior minister received an instruction to prepare that." | "We are talking about a stretch of border 175 km long, whose physical closure can happen with a four-metre high fence. The interior minister received an instruction to prepare that." |
| Mr Szijjarto said that the fence will not contravene any of Hungary's international obligations and that the plan will be prepared by next week. | Mr Szijjarto said that the fence will not contravene any of Hungary's international obligations and that the plan will be prepared by next week. |
| Critics say that that the announcement is the latest anti-immigrant rhetoric from the Hungarian government. | Critics say that that the announcement is the latest anti-immigrant rhetoric from the Hungarian government. |
| A recent government billboard campaign with messages such as "If you come to Hungary, don't take the jobs of Hungarians!" has caused controversy - and prompted the UN to prepare its own billboards highlighting refugees who have successfully integrated into Hungarian society. | A recent government billboard campaign with messages such as "If you come to Hungary, don't take the jobs of Hungarians!" has caused controversy - and prompted the UN to prepare its own billboards highlighting refugees who have successfully integrated into Hungarian society. |
| The poster campaign is part of the government's efforts to win public support for tough new immigration laws that are expected soon. | The poster campaign is part of the government's efforts to win public support for tough new immigration laws that are expected soon. |
| Hungarian officials have said that the billboards were part of a voter survey on immigration that was sent to eight million Hungarians. | Hungarian officials have said that the billboards were part of a voter survey on immigration that was sent to eight million Hungarians. |
| The immigration questionnaire asked people whether they agreed that immigrants endangered their livelihoods and spread terrorism. | The immigration questionnaire asked people whether they agreed that immigrants endangered their livelihoods and spread terrorism. |