Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni
replied to Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto's claim
that Italy is breaking EU rules by saying "Hungary with walls
and referendums has always claimed to be breaking European rules
on migration. Now, at least, it should avoid giving lessons to
Italy".
Szijjarto said earlier it was Italy and not Hungary that
was breaking EU rules, commenting on Premier Matteo Renzi's
threat to veto the EU budget unless countries like Hungary do
their bit in sharing the burden of the migrant influx.
"Renzi has completely misunderstood the situation,"
Szijjarto told the MTI news agency.
"Central European member countries are due European
resources...It's Italy that's not fulfilling its
obligations...if it respected norms and regulations better the
pressure of immigration on the EU would be much less".
Szijjarto said "Renzi is attacking the countries of central
Europe who are respecting common rules while Italy is not
meeting its obligations deriving from belonging to the Schengen
zone".
Renzi has repeatedly called on EU members including Hungary
to do more to help it cope with a record influx of migrants and
refugees.
If the EU does not play its part, he has said, Italy could
veto the EU budget for next year.
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