Under the Irish Presidency of the Council of the European Union, an Informal Justice and Home Affairs Council meeting was held in Dublin on 17 January 2013. State Secretary Károly Kontrát acted as the head of the Hungarian delegation.

The participants discussed the issues of stability, growth and employment. Hungary agreed with the Irish approach, according to which increased attention needs to be paid to avoiding the abuse of the migration system. The Hungarian delegation added, however, that these intentions should not hold back the European Union from maintaining flexible and attractive investment opportunities for investors, who contribute to increasing competitiveness within the union. 

At the meeting, the parties also discussed the security challenges of the financial crisis. The Hungarian delegation supported the idea of the Irish Presidency regarding the strengthening of cooperation in internal affairs and the economic sector. 

Finally, the representatives also touched upon the question of asylum related to the current Syrian situation. The Bulgarian Minister of Interior gave updates in connection with the terrorist attack in Burgas, while Greece informed the participants about the country’s national plan on asylum and migration.

(Ministry of Interior, Press Department)