ANADOLU/ GETTY Hungary has registered more than 19,000 asylum applications this year

FREE now and never miss the top politics stories again. SUBSCRIBE Invalid email Sign up fornow and never miss the top politics stories again. We will use your email address only for sending you newsletters. Please see our Privacy Notice for details of your data protection rights.

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."

EPA Mr Orban was speaking after talks with his Serbian counterpart Aleksandar Vucic

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

Migrants go to extreme lengths to cross borders Fri, October 7, 2016 Desperate migrants fleeing Syria and surrounding places have been trying to sneak across borders in incredible ways. These include hiding in suitcases and sleeping next to car bonnets Play slideshow 1 of 40