MCC-MRI Summit on the 10th Anniversary of the European Migration Crisis

In 2015, more than one million asylum seekers entered Europe from the Middle East and Africa. While certain governments welcomed them, Hungary was the first EU member state to recognize that illegal mass migration posed an existential threat to Europe’s sovereignty, stability, security and social cohesion. In response, the Hungarian government closed its borders to halt this unsustainable influx. Alongside constructing a physical barrier, Hungary also established a robust legal framework to address this crisis, devoting vast resources to curbing the flow and dismantling the organized criminal networks facilitating it.

Since their adoption, these measures have been the focus of continuous attacks from the EU Commission, pro-migration governments, and NGOs. Despite this stalwart opposition, Hungary has been gradually gaining ground in the battle for European political opinion. The unending terrorist attacks in Western Europe, emergence of no-go zones and parallel societies, weakening of Europe’s welfare states, and importation of conflicts from migrants’ countries of origin have awakened European citizens. In countries that once fervently supported mass migration, such as Germany and the Netherlands, migration-critical parties have achieved historic electoral success.

Nevertheless, NGOs and EU institutions remain firmly committed to a pro-migration narrative. Although the momentum has shifted toward Hungary’s position, further change in the discourse on irregular mass migration is essential.
This summit, taking place in Szeged, the frontline of Hungary’s fight against illegal migration, will establish a roadmap for member-states to press EU institutions to combat illegal migration, stop the flow and efficiently close borders, and how Europe can adopt best practices implemented both by Hungary and by the current U.S. administration.