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EU President Donald Tusk says that more than 500,000 irregular arrivals are expected to be registered at its outer borders this year, given the migration surge challenging the bloc.
“It is safe to assume that we will see over half a million irregular arrivals at Europe’s external border this year, who are in part genuine asylum seekers from Syria and elsewhere,’’ Tusk told EU Ambassadors at a conference in Brussels.
He added that the 28-country bloc would meet its responsibilities under the UN Refugee Convention, but “that cannot be done if we sacrifice public order in the process”.
According to him, there is need to resolve tensions and differences of opinions among EU countries on how to handle the migration challenges.
“Words are no longer enough in this matter, we need to deliver,’’ Tusk said.
In a related development, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, says those fleeing conflict in countries such as Syria should not try to cross into Hungary as the move will constitute migration.
“Please don’t come … It’s risky to come. We can’t guarantee that you will be accepted,’’ he said.
Orban said this at a press conference in Brussels when he defended his country’s decision to erect a fence on its border.