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Fabius: Attitude of some E. Europe Nations on Migration 'Scandalous'

The attitude of a number of eastern European countries towards the migrant crisis facing the EU is "scandalous", French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said Sunday, pointing in particular to an anti-migrant barrier in Hungary.

"When I see a certain number of European countries, particularly in the east, who do not accept quotas (of migrants), I find it scandalous," he told Europe 1 radio.

Germany has acted "courageously," with the support of France, "but Europe as a whole must assume its responsibilities," said Fabius.

He specifically pointed to a razor-wire barrier along Hungary's border with non-EU member Serbia, aimed at keeping out migrants, which Fabius said "did not respect Europe's common values".

The barrier consisting of three rolls of razor wire along the 175-kilometer frontier is however failing to prevent people getting across, AFP saw in a recent visit.

A four-meter-high (13-foot) fence is due to follow and is already being built by the Hungarian army which will "also provide a defense against illegal border-crossers," according to the country's defense ministry.

Hungary, a member of the European Union and of the visa-free Schengen zone, has this year intercepted more than 140,000 migrants entering from Serbia.

Source: Agence France Presse


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