Hungary Will Not Implement EU Migration Pact, Interior Minister Says

Hungary has reaffirmed its opposition to the European Union’s migration pact, with its interior minister stating it has no intention of implementing the controversial framework despite ongoing discussions within the bloc.

Speaking at a meeting of Parliament’s European Affairs Committee on Monday, Interior Minister Gábor Pósfai confirmed that Hungary has neither prepared a national implementation plan for the pact nor plans to submit one in the future. The comments came in response to questions about developments at the recent meeting of the EU Justice and Home Affairs Council in Luxembourg.

According to Pósfai, Hungary continues to reject the migration pact in its current form, maintaining a position that has been a cornerstone of the country’s migration policy for years.

One notable aspect of the government’s stance is that it comes under a leadership that has often sought to distance itself from or criticize previous Orbán era policies in other areas. Yet when it comes to migration, the current government is effectively continuing the same fundamental approach: resisting mandatory migration measures and defending national control over border policy. In doing so, it indirectly validates the course Hungary pursued during the migration crisis and in the years that followed, a posture supported by the overwhelming majority of Hungarians.

Pósfai explained that among the solidarity mechanisms included in the pact—quota-based distribution, financial compensation, and technical assistance—Hungary is only willing to consider technical assistance.

He added that even technical assistance should require the approval of the country facing migratory pressure. While preliminary discussions and bilateral consultations have already taken place, no final agreement has been reached on the matter, the minister claimed.

It is unclear as of now how the EU will react to the Hungarian position, given the context of Hungarian politics since the elections that saw Brussels-backed Péter Magyar take charge of the government after 16 years of Brussels-critical leadership by Viktor Orbán.

The resistance against the migration pact could pose an obstacle in terms of unlocking the frozen EU funds, which Brussels has been using as a tool of political blackmail against Budapest. Magyar’s recent pro-EU policies, like lifting the Hungarian veto on Ukraine’s EU accession talks, is seen as a direct result of that coercion.

The formerly ruling conservative Fidesz party, now the larger opposition party in parliament, is still sceptical of the government’s resolve to resist Brussels pressure when it comes to migration. The party has submitted a motion for resolution to the House that declares Hungary rejects the pact. On Monday, Fidesz parliamentary group leader Gergely Gulyás called on the majority Tisza group in parliament to support the resolution.