Hungarian Immigration Office working on integration strategy

Support migrant centric journalism today and donate

The Immigration Office of the Hungarian Interior Ministry has begun work on a strategy on the social integration of immigrants and refugees in Hungary, a senior official said yesterday.

The ministry plans to work jointly with other ministries, local councils and NGOs on this topical issue which has become a priority in the EU, Zsuzsanna Végh said. Major problems include language, jobs and training, Végh said.

In 2005, the immigration office received a total of 1,600 applications for refugee status, and 35% of these applicants came to Hungary legally. Most refugees were from Vietnam, Serbia-Montenegro, China and Georgia, Végh said.