Hungary’s Chief Security Advisor György Bakondi has highlighted a connection between illegal migration and public safety in Western Europe.
Commenting on recent events, he said:
New Year’s riots in major Western European cities have clearly shown the direct link between illegal migration and the deterioration of public security.…. On New Year’s Eve police officers, firefighters, and paramedics were attacked in countries including Germany, Italy, and France by individuals with a ‘migration background.’
Bakondi added that Hungary will not change its migration policy under pressure or fines, “because the Hungarian national interest, sovereignty, and public security come first.”
The warnings follow exceptional levels of violence across Europe on New Year’s Eve, which strained emergency services. In Brussels, emergency crews responded to numerous fires and vehicles set ablaze. One video on X shows hooded, scooter-riding individuals, apparently Moroccan, carrying Kalashnikovs rifles in plain sight in the Belgian capital.
Antwerp also experienced “extremely turbulent and dangerous” conditions for emergency services, with vehicles targeted with stones, eggs, and fireworks. Around 100 young people were arrested, most under the age of 20.
In the Netherlands, disturbances began early. Police reported that “almost all available riot police officers in the Netherlands were on duty,” while violence against emergency workers “increased dramatically” in several cities.
The situation in France was no better. Reports say 1,173 cars were set on fire in the country just in one night. Bakondi also warned that the European Union’s migration pact is not a solution, as it would push illegal migrants into countries where they are currently not present, potentially exacerbating public safety challenges.
