Economy
Hungary requests EU to activate Civil Protection Mechanism
Will the EU Civil Protection Mechanism be activated?
“Hungary has requested today to activate the EU Civil Protection Mechanism in order to request assistance with mattresses, bed sheets, pillows, bad linen, blankets and heating equipment in dealing with the refugee crisis. This is a very concrete result of our permanent and constructive involvement with Hungary," Andreeva told a daily press briefing in Brussels today.
400,000-500,000 refugees may arrive in Hungary
“Up to 400,000 to 500,000 refugees may arrive in Hungary by the end of the year if Hungary does not step up the protection of its southern borders," Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó told a press conference after a meeting by the Visegrad Four countries in Prague today.
He added that so far some 180,000 refugees entered Hungary this year.
“Hungary will fulfil its obligations and protect the external borders of the European Union," he pledged. The country is currently building a 175-km long fence on is border with Serbia and is tightening its penal code in a bid to stem the massive inflow of refugees, mostly from war-ravaged countries such as Syria and Afghanistan, from the south. The new regulations are to be put into effect on 15 September and crossing the border illegally will be considered a criminal offense punishable by years of imprisonment.
Orbán to present 5-point package of proposals
If Greece does not defend its borders than “we will have to defend" ours, Prime Minister Orbán argued. He added that the legal conditions for that are still missing therefore the key priority now is to create these conditions as soon as possible and he will propose his European peers to enforce such rules.
He noted that this initiative is part of a five-point package of proposals he would present later with the aim to manage the current refugee situation in Europe.
Hungary [and the V4 countries] do not contest the European Commission’s right to create new rules applicable by every member state with assistance of the European Parliament, but the EC must not neglect the current political consensus that without the consent of Prime Ministers no legislative process may be started in the EU.
The President of the Commission is about to breach this consensus which could have far-reaching consequences on the internal life of the EU later on, he warned.
Extraordinary meeting could be called
Donald Tusk, President of the European Council, indicated on Friday that he is ready to convene an extraordinary EU summit already this month if Interior Ministers of member states fail to agree next Monday on the comprehensive refugee management strategy tabled by the Commission on Wednesday.Help on its way from the UN too
On Friday the UN refugee agency said it was sending pre-fabricated housing units for 300 families to Hungary to help provide temporary overnight shelter for some of the arrivals, The Guardian reported.
William Spindler, spokesman for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees(UNHCR) said the agency was “closely following" the way people were being treated in the country.
“Obviously we expect authorities to respect rights of refugees whether they are the police or army," he said.
The UNHCR is also sending emergency supplies for 95,000 people to the region wider region, he added.
While the UNHCR has praised the Hungarian police’s handling of the crisis, officers have complained of being forced to work long hours in impossible conditions.
“Hungary has requested today to activate the EU Civil Protection Mechanism in order to request assistance with mattresses, bed sheets, pillows, bad linen, blankets and heating equipment in dealing with the refugee crisis. This is a very concrete result of our permanent and constructive involvement with Hungary," Andreeva told a daily press briefing in Brussels today.
EU Civil Protection Mechanism
Why is this important?
Civil protection assistance consists of governmental aid delivered in the immediate aftermath of a disaster. It can take the form of in-kind assistance, deployment of specially-equipped teams, or assessment and coordination by experts sent to the field.
Yet, disasters know no borders. A well-coordinated response at a European level is necessary to avoid duplication of relief efforts and ensure that assistance meets the real needs of the affected region.
What is the EU CPM?
In 2001, the EU Civil Protection Mechanism was established, fostering cooperation among national civil protection authorities across Europe. The Mechanism currently includes all 28 EU Member States in addition to Iceland, Montenegro, Norway, Serbia, and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. Turkey has recently signed the agreements tojoin the Mechanism.
The Mechanism was set up to enable coordinated assistance from the participating states to victims of natural and man-made disasters in Europe and elsewhere.
Recipient countries
Any country in the world can call on the EU Civil Protection Mechanism for help. Since its launch in 2001, the EU Civil Protection Mechanism has monitored over 300 disasters and has received more than 180 requests for assistance. It intervened in some of the most devastating disasters the world has faced, like Hurricane Katrina in the USA (2005), the earthquake in Haiti (2010), the triple-disaster in Japan (2011), typhoon Haiyan that hit the Philippines (2013), the floods in Serbia andBosnia and Herzegovina (2014), the Ebola outbreak (2014), the conflict in Ukraine (2014), and the earthquake in Nepal (2015).
Civil protection assistance consists of governmental aid delivered in the immediate aftermath of a disaster. It can take the form of in-kind assistance, deployment of specially-equipped teams, or assessment and coordination by experts sent to the field.
Yet, disasters know no borders. A well-coordinated response at a European level is necessary to avoid duplication of relief efforts and ensure that assistance meets the real needs of the affected region.
What is the EU CPM?
In 2001, the EU Civil Protection Mechanism was established, fostering cooperation among national civil protection authorities across Europe. The Mechanism currently includes all 28 EU Member States in addition to Iceland, Montenegro, Norway, Serbia, and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. Turkey has recently signed the agreements tojoin the Mechanism.
The Mechanism was set up to enable coordinated assistance from the participating states to victims of natural and man-made disasters in Europe and elsewhere.
Recipient countries
Any country in the world can call on the EU Civil Protection Mechanism for help. Since its launch in 2001, the EU Civil Protection Mechanism has monitored over 300 disasters and has received more than 180 requests for assistance. It intervened in some of the most devastating disasters the world has faced, like Hurricane Katrina in the USA (2005), the earthquake in Haiti (2010), the triple-disaster in Japan (2011), typhoon Haiyan that hit the Philippines (2013), the floods in Serbia andBosnia and Herzegovina (2014), the Ebola outbreak (2014), the conflict in Ukraine (2014), and the earthquake in Nepal (2015).
400,000-500,000 refugees may arrive in Hungary
“Up to 400,000 to 500,000 refugees may arrive in Hungary by the end of the year if Hungary does not step up the protection of its southern borders," Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó told a press conference after a meeting by the Visegrad Four countries in Prague today.
He added that so far some 180,000 refugees entered Hungary this year.
“Hungary will fulfil its obligations and protect the external borders of the European Union," he pledged. The country is currently building a 175-km long fence on is border with Serbia and is tightening its penal code in a bid to stem the massive inflow of refugees, mostly from war-ravaged countries such as Syria and Afghanistan, from the south. The new regulations are to be put into effect on 15 September and crossing the border illegally will be considered a criminal offense punishable by years of imprisonment.
Orbán to present 5-point package of proposals
If Greece does not defend its borders than “we will have to defend" ours, Prime Minister Orbán argued. He added that the legal conditions for that are still missing therefore the key priority now is to create these conditions as soon as possible and he will propose his European peers to enforce such rules.
He noted that this initiative is part of a five-point package of proposals he would present later with the aim to manage the current refugee situation in Europe.
Hungary [and the V4 countries] do not contest the European Commission’s right to create new rules applicable by every member state with assistance of the European Parliament, but the EC must not neglect the current political consensus that without the consent of Prime Ministers no legislative process may be started in the EU.
The President of the Commission is about to breach this consensus which could have far-reaching consequences on the internal life of the EU later on, he warned.
Extraordinary meeting could be called
Donald Tusk, President of the European Council, indicated on Friday that he is ready to convene an extraordinary EU summit already this month if Interior Ministers of member states fail to agree next Monday on the comprehensive refugee management strategy tabled by the Commission on Wednesday.Help on its way from the UN too
On Friday the UN refugee agency said it was sending pre-fabricated housing units for 300 families to Hungary to help provide temporary overnight shelter for some of the arrivals, The Guardian reported.
William Spindler, spokesman for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees(UNHCR) said the agency was “closely following" the way people were being treated in the country.
“Obviously we expect authorities to respect rights of refugees whether they are the police or army," he said.
The UNHCR is also sending emergency supplies for 95,000 people to the region wider region, he added.
While the UNHCR has praised the Hungarian police’s handling of the crisis, officers have complained of being forced to work long hours in impossible conditions.
