Informal meeting of home affairs ministers was held on 23 July 2012 in Nicosia and organised by the Cyprus EU Presidency. Head of the Hungarian delegation was Mr. Károly Kontrát, Parliamentary State Secretary of the Ministry of Interior. The following topics were on the agenda:

1. The third Annual Report on Immigration and Asylum

The European Commission has published the report recently which is a starting point for discussing future priorities: fight against illegal migration and trafficking in human beings, proper integration of migrants, enhanced cooperation with countries of origin and transit. In Hungary’s point of view the efforts have to be concentrated on the implementation of the Roadmap EU Action on Migratory Pressure which has been adopted in spring, and on the removal of illegal migration route leading from Turkey through the Western Balkan to Hungary and other EU Member States, whereas in these fields positive achievements have been made. This is closely related to Serbia, as EU funding has been provided to develop migration and asylum capacities in the country. Hungary contributes to it because irregular migratory pressure from Western Balkan is identified as the biggest problem.

2. Security in cyber space

Hungary intends to pay greater attention to this topic since years and welcomed that the Cyprus Presidency put it on agenda. In the first half of 2011 Hungarian EU Presidency tackled with cyber crime in the framework of the ministerial conference. During autumn 2012 significant series of conferences will be held and all the aspects of the topic will be analysed because the recent National Security Strategy foresaw the development of the relating capacities. Taking into account the Member States’ national strategies and opinions on the most important threats, the discussion of this session will contribute to the development of the European Cyber Security Strategy.

3. Challenges of the security industry – research and development in the field of security

Mr. Gilles de Kerchove, EU Counter-terrorism Coordinator made a presentation on Security research, which is of particular concern at the moment. Hungary traditionally attaches great importance to the innovation, continuously monitors technical development and responds appropriately when crime exploits the inherent opportunities. Therefore Hungary agrees with the conclusions which aim to allocate resources to the research and development in the field of security for the future seven-year period.

4. The situation in Syria

Ministers discussed in closed session the asylum aspects of the situation in Syria. The Bulgarian Minister of Interior informed about the terror attack which has been committed in Burgas.

(Ministry of Interior, Press Department)