The Hungarian Prime Minister ordered a nationwide referendum on October 2 which will see the Hungarian people asked if they want to accept any future EU mandatory quote system for resettling migrants.

Mr Orban has been at the forefront of a wave of anti-EU sentiment sweeping the bloc.

Hungary has registered more than 19,000 asylum applications this year and it’s believed more than 14,000 migrants have crossed its southern borders illegally.

They want to force rules on member states that are in conflict with their interests, including Hungary’s. We are preparing for a conflict Viktor Orban

Mr Orban said: “We don’t want to change the character of our country.”We want to remain Hungarian, to keep our religious and ethnic composition. That view isn’t popular in Europe nowadays, at least among politicians.”They want to force rules on member states that are in conflict with their interests, including Hungary’s. We are preparing for a conflict.”

Speaking after a meeting in Belgrade with his Serbian counterpart Aleksandar Vucic, Mr Orban also said the upcoming referendum will strengthen his hand in upcoming legal disputes with Brussels. The Hungarian Prime Minister warned the number of migrants trying to reach Europe through the Balkans could swell to levels seen last autumn. He said: “The very moment when it became impossible to cross into Europe by sea, the Balkan route swelled up again, and we have no reason to believe the same won’t happen this year.”

ANADOLU It’s believed more than 14,000 migrants have crossed Hungary’s southern borders illegally

ANADOLU The Hungarian Prime Minister ordered a nationwide referendum on October 2 on EU migrant quotas

An earlier agreement to deploy Hungarian police officers to Serbia’s border with Macedonia is expected to be extended to the Bulgarian border. Mr Vucic welcomed offers of Hungarian support to police its borders. He said: “Every help in terms of technical assets and manpower is welcome.”

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