Timmermans: EU to forge ahead despite Hungary’s migration referendum result

The European Commission will wait to see what lessons the Hungarian government will draw from the result of the referendum it held over the weekend and would “deal with that, once that is clear”, according to the Commission’s first vice-president Frans Timmermans.

Timmermans, who was replying to a question put to him by MaltaToday after a visit to the European Asylum Support Office (EASO) in Valletta on Thursday, said that the result of Hungary’s referendum was very difficult to call.

“Some would say that the turnout was so low, while others would say that the expression of those who went to vote is very clear,” he said.

In the referendum, 94% of voters decided their country should not accept the European Union’s migrants quotas, but only 43% of eligible voters cast their ballot.

Timmermans said that the EU member states needed to tackle the issue of migration together and the result of the referendum in Hungary would not hinder the European Commission from continuing to implement decisions taken on a European level,

Timmermans, who was addressing journalists after a visit to the European Asylum Support Office (EASO) in Valletta on Thursday, said that the result of Hungary’s referendum was “very difficult to call, because some would say that the turnout was so low, while others would say that the expression of those who went to vote is very clear”.

Timmermans said the EU needed to continue implementing decisions taken because it was important that the EU tackle the issue of migration together.

“That’s the only way forward and I count on all member states to contribute to the solution of the problem,” he said.

Timmermans said he was impressed by the operation EASO had set up in Malta and the commitment of the staff, most of whom had only recently arrived in Malta.

“I said to them clearly that the success of this operation is something that 500 million are looking for,” he said. “Because if there is one subject that worries Europeans, it is the issue of migration and the fact that we need to get migration under control.”

Timmermans commended the Maltese authorities for their strong political and administrative support to EASO building up to its capacity in Malta.