Hungary’s parliament has passed a law allowing the government to deploy its army to handle refugees at its borders and the use of non-lethal weapons such as rubber bullets and tear gas grenades.
Speaking ahead of the vote on Monday Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban claimed that millions of refugees are “laying siege” to the borders of his country and of Europe, and said: “The migrants are not just banging on our door, they’re breaking it down,” before reiterating his view that most were coming for economic and not safety reasons.
The new law will allow soldiers to be sent to help police manage the refugee crisis, carrying out many of the same tasks such as checking ID, detaining suspects and controlling the flow of traffic at the borders.
It also allows the army to use non-lethal force against refugees, which includes the use of rubber bullets, pyrotechnical devices, tear gas grenades and net guns, according to the text posted on the parliament’s website.
A Syrian man looks at an advertisement warning would-be refugees from attempting to enter Hungary illegally
An emergency summit is being held on Wednesday, when European leaders will attempt to find a unified response to the worst refugee crisis Europe has seen since the Second World War.
Hungary's vote came on the same day its government took out a full page advert in Lebanese and Jordanian newspapers warning people that entering the country illegally is a crime punishable by imprisonment. There are currently hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugees living in Lebanon and Jordan.
The ad reads: “Hungarians are hospitable, but the strongest possible action is taken against those who attempt to enter Hungary illegally.
“The illegal crossing of the country’s border is a crime punishable by imprisonment.
“Do not listen to the people smugglers. Hungary will not allow illegal immigrants to cross its territory.”
How Hungary welcomes its refugees - in pictures
The news comes as Orban defended the construction of a steel fence on the border with Serbia to stop refugees from crossing into the country, claiming that eastern European nations have been forced to protect themselves against the “brutal threat” of mass migration.
Orban claimed that Europe had “sent out invitations to the migrants” and said the razor-wire fences being built on the Hungary’s borders with Serbia, Croatia and Romania are core to stopping refugees entering the country.
Orban’s centre right Fidesz party was supported in the vote by Hungary’s radical nationalist Jobbik party, which has called for even tougher measures to be used.
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Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Poland met in Prague on Monday to state their opposition to the EU's proposed quotas for relocation of asylum seekers across Europe.
Talks between the four nations were held with Luxembourg's Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn, whose country holds the EU's rotating presidency. After hours of talks, he said: "We still have 20 hours [...] to come to a conclusion. We know we have to find a European solution."
Additional reporting by agencies
