Key Findings
Best practice (100% score)
Rights associated with labour market access
Fields of application for anti-discrimination law
Political liberties for political participation
Favourable
Eligibility for family reunion
Anti-discrimination law, especially definitions and concepts and enforcement mechanisms
Unfavourable
Eligibility for access to nationality
Eligibility and integration measures for labour market access
Critically unfavourable (0% score)
Consultative bodies and implementation policies for political participation
* * * * *
Overview
Over recent years, Hungary has perceived itself as a country of transit for asylum seekers and irregular migrants on their way to Western Europe. Yet it has also received some of its own asylum seekers and migrant workers from Eastern and Southern Europe. The flows have been dominated by returning ethnic Hungarian minorities from neighbouring countries, and policy debates have focused on simplified visas and facilitated naturalisation for this preferred group. When Hungary joined the EU, its southern and eastern border became one segment of the EU's external border, prompting the development of a migration strategy. Although Hungary still lacks a declared integration policy, the current government initiated some debate on a legal and institutional framework, but later withdrew the proposal.
Hungary scores around halfway to best practice on labour market access, family reunion and long-term residence policies for legally-resident third-country nationals (hereafter ‘migrants'). Political participation and access to nationality scores are even lower. In contrast to these five MIPEX strands, anti-discrimination stands out as a definite area of strength and the third best in the 28 MIPEX countries.
* * * * *
Integration Policy Timeline
06/06/2005
Amendments to the Aliens Act transposed EC Directive on family reunion
30/05/2006
Ministerial Decree 29 added names of refugees to the electoral roll without their knowledge
08/2006
Immigration and Nationality Department established in Ministry of Justice and Law Enforcement
11/2006
White Paper on Integration of Third-Country Nationals proposed legal and institutional framework and practical measures
18/12/2006
Act on the entry and residence of third-country nationals adopted to transpose the EC Directive on long-term residents
20/02/2007
Migration Strategy withdrawn after it was heavily criticised for being pro-immigrant, and leading to the dumping of millions of ‘Asian' immigrants
* * * * *
Migrant Profile
