Hungary: The fear of others
With 198,000 foreigners in a country of 10 million inhabitants Hungary is far from being a country of massive Immgration. To increase its influence, the extreme right makes immigrants the scapegoats for the crisis.
Hungary has about 10 million inhabitants and has opened its borders to international immigration in 1989, after the end of communist rule. On 21 December 2007, Hungary joined the Schenghen space. But even if they were some positive developments in the fields of retention and access to the labor market, the directive has not been fully transposed into the national legislation yet. As a result, many existing provisions of the right to asylum don’t meet the minimum standards required by the EU directives yet.
In addition, because of its vague wording, the few changes that have been made by the Hungarian Parliament so far have not significantly improved the lives of asylum seekers and refugees residing in Hungary.
A negligible illegal immigration
In 2007, there were 166,600 legal immigrants residing in the country. Estimates of the number of irregular migrants vary between 30 000 and 50 000. It is supposed that among the migrants with a residence permit, the proportion of men is very high (and may even reach up to 80%). 90-95% are aged between 20 and 59 years. Between 2000 and 2006, 31,450 asylum applications were made, that is to say the vast majority of asylum seekers who have arrived illegally in Hungarian territory. The greater flow of irregular migrants in Hungary consists of people who arrive legally, but extend their stay beyond the time limit allowed. No reliable estimates exists but the number of offenses peaked in the mid-1990s, with 27 000 to 30 000 migrants apprehended. Since then, a significant and consistent downward trend was observed, resulting in an annual average of about 8 000 to 10 000 people crossing the border illégallement. Today, compared to neighboring countries members of the EU, irregular border crossings in Hungary are negligible. The immigration of Central European countries, China and Vietnam is primarily a labor migration, often based on seasonal or temporary jobs. It is mainly a transit immigration.
Xenophobia
The political discourse on illegal immigration is strongly influenced by the Office of Immigration and Nationality and border police which recently merged with the police, and arises primarily in the context of the penal policy (eg the fight against smuggling and trafficking), security (eg measures against forgery of documents and the protection of human rights (eg the right to family regrouppement). The political discourse on illegal immigration is strongly influenced by the Office of Immigration and Nationality and border police which recently merged with the police, and arises primarily in the context of the criminal policy (eg the fight against smuggling and trafficking), security (eg measures against forgery of documents) and the protection of human rights (eg the right to family reunification). The absence of public debate on an overall migration strategy that would take into account the interrelated social, economic and political life related to the phenomenon of migration is obvious. In addition, an increase of xenophobia and nationalism in Hungary is clearly visible through the results of the last parliamentary election (the far-right party Jobbik received almost 15% of votes). The right-wing media campaign against migrants. Despite a declining birthrate which creates shortages in the labor market, migration policy in Hungary is mainly oriented towards the Hungarian communities in neighboring countries (diaspora policy). Hungary’s migration policy is short-term thinking and focused on safety through defensive measures against migrants, without any overall strategy.
The Immigration Hungary in figures
In late 2007, there were 166,693 foreign nationals (1.6% of the total population) living in Hungary with a residence permit for a period exceeding three months. Two thirds of foreign citizens residing legally come from neighboring countries. 12% is from an Asian country (of which 8% are from China or Vietnam) and 12% of European citizenship. Since 2000, the number of people getting anual Hungarian citizenship varies from 3,000 to 10 000. The number of foreigners varies between 20 000 and 23 000.
The Immigration in Hungary in figures
In late 2007, there were 166,693 foreign nationals (1.6% of the total population) living in Hungary with a residence permit for a period exceeding three months. Two thirds of foreign citizens residing legally come from neighboring countries. 12% is from an Asian country (of which 8% are from China or Vietnam) and 12% of European citizenship. Since 2000, the number of people getting anual Hungarian citizenship varies from 3,000 to 10 000. The annual number of foreigners varies between 20 000 and 23 000.
Matyas Benyick
President of Attac Hungary
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