Hungarian border barrier

For Hungary's border fence with Austria 1950–1989, see Removal of Hungary's border fence with Austria.
Hungarian border barrier
Déli határzár
 Hungary
The border barrier at the Serbo-Hungarian border
  Border barrier in operation or natural barrier: river (Serbian and Croatian border)
  Planned border barrier (part of the Romanian border)
  Hungary—operator of the barrier
  EU and Schengen member states that assist in barrier operation [i.e. the "Visegrád Group"]
  Other EU and Schengen member states
  EU member states not yet implementing the Schengen Agreement
  Non-EU, Non-Schengen states
  Associated Schengen members
TypeBorder barrier
Height4 metres (13 ft)
Length320 kilometres (200 mi)
Site information
Owner Hungary
Operator Hungarian Defence Force
Controlled by Hungary
In cooperation with the Visegrád Group:[1]
 Czech Republic
 Poland
 Slovakia
In further cooperation with:[2][3]
 Turkey
Site history
Built2015 (2015)
Built by Hungarian Defence Force
MaterialsConcertina wire
EventsEuropean migrant crisis

In 2015, Hungary built a border barrier on its border with Serbia and Croatia. The fence was constructed during the European migrant crisis (see timeline), with the aim to ensure border security by preventing illegal immigrants from entering, and enabling the option to enter through official checkpoints and claim asylum in Hungary in accordance with international and European law.[4] The number of illegal entries to Hungary declined greatly after the barrier was finished as it effectively abolished the entry to Hungary.[5]

Following an increased influx of asylum-seekers and migrants into the Schengen Area despite the Dublin Regulation, Hungary stated that the EU was "too slow to act", and started construction of the barrier in June 2015.[6] According to BBC News, "many of the migrants currently in Hungary have been refusing to register there, in order to continue their journeys to Germany before seeking asylum".[7] Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán commented: "Our job is only to register them".[7] The barrier was completed in September.[8] Later, Hungary constructed barriers on minor sections of the Croatian border[9] that are not separated by the Drava river.

  1. ^ "Official: V4 countries to contribute police for protection of southern border". Daily News Hungary. 15 October 2015. Retrieved 19 October 2015.
  2. ^ "50 Turkish policemen will join the border protection in Hungary". Daily News Hungary. 18 December 2021. Retrieved 30 January 2022.
  3. ^ "Turkish police to help Hungary at borders with Serbia, Romania". Daily Sabah. 17 December 2021. Retrieved 30 January 2022.
  4. ^ Migrant crisis: Hungary's closed border leaves many stranded. BBC News. 15 September 2015.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference 26 August 2016 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Nolan, Daniel (17 June 2015). "Hungary orders 100-mile Serbia border fence to keep out migrants". The Telegraph. Retrieved 18 August 2015.
  7. ^ a b Migrant crisis 'a German problem' - Hungary's Orban. 3 September 2015.
  8. ^ Refugees 'exhausted' after Serbia-Hungary border closes. BBC News. 14 September 2015.
  9. ^ "Migrant crisis: Neighbours squabble after Croatia U-turn". BBC News. 19 September 2015.