Hungary sets date for referendum on EU migrant plan

Hungarian President Janos Ader announced on July 5 that Hungary will hold a referendum on October 2 on whether to accept quotas for resettling asylum seekers currently held in camps, which the EU plans to impose on most member states.

The EU announced the scheme last year in response to the migrant crisis and has proposed a financial charge of €250,000 ($278,000) per refugee for member states refusing to accept their share of asylum seekers.

The question the Hungarian citizens will be answering is "Do you want the European Union to be entitled to prescribe the mandatory settlement of non-Hungarian citizens in Hungary without the consent of parliament?"

Hungary’s referendum is further threatening to undermine the weakened European Union. Nevertheless, because of dependence on EU funds, Hungary is not likely to hold EU exit referendum (although some high-profile Fidesz leaders appear to push for such a referendum too).