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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