Rioting at Roszke eight years ago after Hungary closed its southern border – internal security expert evaluates past period

Twenty police officers were injured in the clash at Roszke border crossing point eight years ago after Hungary decided to close its southern borders to illegal migrants. Events in the past eight years have shown that the right decision was made, PM Orban's chief advisor on internal security said.

Röszke, 2023. szeptember 5. Rendõrautó az ideiglenes biztonsági határzárnál Röszke közelében 2023. szeptember 5-én. MTI/Rosta Tibor Fotó: Rosta Tibor

Gyorgy Bakondi highlighted that the barrier on the southern border has recently been raised higher and doubled in length, and border guards have been equipped with modern equipment, ensuring greater protection for Hungary and the European Union than at the time the clashes at Roszke took place.

Border barriers are not new in Europe

The expert noted that border barriers have existed in the past - in Bulgaria, Spain, Greece - and the strict measure taken by Hungary has since been followed by other countries, with similar barriers having been erected in several places. He added that Italy, severely struggling with migrants arriving on sea routes, is also planning to implement changes to curb migration.

As the latest threat, the security advisor drew attention to the sub-Saharan Sahel region, from where millions of people can set out for Europe in the near future, and stressed that the Hungarian government is constantly monitoring new phenomena. Gyorgy Bakondi found it regretful that despite all this, he saw no major shift at the European level: the European Union is preparing a migration pact, with relocation quotas and migrant camps remaining in the plans. However, in his view, the Hungarian government is doing everything possible to delay or block the adoption of the package.

It was also said on the TV program that after eight years, there are still moments of drama at Hungary's southern border, with human and arms smuggling flourishing and armed migrants putting pressure on Subotica and surrounding settlements.

As reported, shootings near residential districts take place between migrants, who have divided the area among themselves. It was stressed that there could be terrorists among the migrants attacking the border in groups of as many as one hundred and there could be a total of three thousand migrants staying in camps on Serbia's side of the border.

Cover photo: Border fence at Roszke. (Photo: MTI/Tibor Rosta)