The increased numbers of people reaching Europe, coincided with a concerted effort by many Eastern European countries to stop asylum seekers from entering their territory.
Most notably was Hungary, which was the first country to build an unofficial border constructed from razor wire to stem the flow of migrants. At the same time, Prime Minister Viktor Orban amended legislation to change the definition of asylum seekers to economic migrants.
Anyone entering the country illegally to claim asylum can be arrested and rendered unable to access any rights in relation to the European Union's asylum law.
The next contention was the continued refusal by Hungary, Slovakia, Romania and the Czech Republic to refuse to sign up to the European Commission's proposed quota system to share asylum seekers proportionally between member states — predominantly to ease the burden on Greece and Italy, the first entry point into the EU for refugees and migrants.
414 000 first time asylum seekers in Member States in 3rd quarter 2015 #Eurostat https://t.co/QeKilw9J0C pic.twitter.com/C45gZfUcdX
— EU_Eurostat (@EU_Eurostat) December 10, 2015
Out of the 413,800 asylum seekers who applied for international protection in the European Union, one in three are from Syria.
Q3 2015 applicants: Germany 26%, Hungary 26%, Sweden 10%, Italy 7%, Austria 7% #Eurostat https://t.co/QeKilw9J0C pic.twitter.com/OFM0xh9hRo
— EU_Eurostat (@EU_Eurostat) December 10, 2015
More than half, according to data compiled by Eurostat applied for asylum in Germany and Hungary, both with around 108,000 first time applications.
The Hungarian statistics are often overlooked as scorn is poured upon the country's PM's anti-immigration rhetoric.
The European Commission has decided to take action against Hungary and begin infringement proceedings against Orban's controversial asylum law.
"Hungary should take heed and act now to restore the rights of asylum seekers to access its territory and fair asylum determination proceedings," said Iverna McGowan, acting director for Amnesty International's European office.
At last! @EU_Commission opens infringement against #Hungary. happy news for #humanrightday https://t.co/nJ6SrVa3ZC
— Iverna McGowan (@iverna1) December 10, 2015
Yet Orban's stance remains unmoved.
In a recent interview with Politico, he said it was "politically irresponsible" to continue to allow migrants into the EU, unchecked, since they "may or do commit acts of terror."
Meanwhile, Brussels remains firm that all member states must take part in the process of redistributing asylum seekers around Europe. But Hungary and other Eastern European countries continue to resist.
"PM Orban of Hungary said that Mr. Abdeslam had recruited a team of Paris attackers from unregistered migrants traveling through Hungary."
— John Schindler (@20committee) December 4, 2015
Perhaps on principle, or perhaps they think they are already registering disproportionately more asylum seekers than other countries, as the recent statistics from Eurostat suggest.
