Hungary: Migrant Trouble at the Serbian Border
14th August 2016
There was serious trouble at the border between Serbia and Hungary last September during the height of the migration crisis. Back then Hungary instituted border controls and started building a fence to try to stem the flood that was crossing from Serbia on the way to Austria and Germany. In one of the worst incidents, a mob of migrants, egged on by a man with a megaphone, reacted violently and stormed the new fence. The Hungarian police responded with tear gas and water cannons directed at the rioters, even when they were on the Serbian side of the border.
Beginning last Wednesday there was a reprise of last year’s ructions. Rioting immigrants broke down part of the fence at the Röszke border crossing, and Hungarian police responded once again with water cannons, without being too finicky about whether the water crossed over into Serbian territory.
It’s important to remember the political context of these events: the current Serbian government is pro-EU, and eager to complete the procedures necessary for it to join the bloc. Serbian politicians are anxious to curry favor with Brussels, and thus follow the EU party line on “refugees”. Hungary, on the other hand, staunchly resists the diktats from Brussels concerning migrants. Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is determined to maintain his country’s national sovereignty. This difference of opinion on immigration is currently a source of tension between Serbia and Hungary.