A scheduled visit by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban to the party conference of the conservative Bavarian Christian Social Union (CSU) on Friday highlighted policy differences between members of a potential "grand coalition" in Germany, notably with regard to refugees.

Speaking at the conference, Orban said that the arrival of hundreds of thousands of refugees and migrants in Europe has created a "democracy problem."

He said that Europeans do not want to live under the "threat of terrorism," adding that "they want the borders to be protected."

The populist leader added that he believes the year 2018 will be "the year of restoring the will of the people in Europe."

Seehofer sees Orban as a friend

His controversial trip to the Bavarian town of Seeon-Seebruck comes two days before Angela Merkel's Christian Democratic Union (CDU), its sister party the CSU and the Social Democratic Party (SDP) are due to commence "exploratory talks" on forming a governing coalition.

Orban has been criticized by most member states of the European Union for his refusal to take in refugees under a quota scheme. The European Commission has also accused him of eroding democracy and the rule of law in Hungary through a number of controversial legislative moves.

Read more: The EU migrant relocation and resettlement scheme — what you need to know

Watch video 01:47 Share The rise of anti-immigration leaders Send Facebook google+ Whatsapp Tumblr linkedin stumble Digg reddit Newsvine Permalink https://p.dw.com/p/2qJXI Poland and Hungary condemn EU migration policy

Hardline policy

The CSU has come into conflict with its potential coalition partners, particularly the SPD, over its own hardline refugee policy, which envisages a limit to the number of asylum seekers that Germany takes in.

The party also wants to see the current moratorium on family reunification extended. Presently, family members of asylum seekers whose application has been only conditionally granted are not allowed to follow them to Germany.

In addition, some CSU members envisage sending certain Syrian refugees back to "safe regions" in their conflict-ridden home country, an idea opposed as premature even by most other conservative politicians.

At the CSU conference, which is to run until Saturday, the party is also to decide on a controversial demand to make asylum seekers undergo procedures to determine their age. The demand came after a murder case in the town of Kandel in the state of Rhineland-Palatinate, in which an refugee minor allegedly killed his 15-year-old ex-girlfriend.

Read more: German doctors reject mandatory age tests for asylum seekers

How did Europe's refugee crisis start? Fleeing war and poverty In late 2014, with the war in Syria approaching its fourth year and Islamic State making gains in the north of the country, the exodus of Syrians intensified. At the same time, others were fleeing violence and poverty in countries such as Iraq, Afghanistan, Eritrea, Somalia, Niger and Kosovo.

How did Europe's refugee crisis start? Seeking refuge over the border Vast numbers of Syrian refugees had been gathering in border-town camps in neighboring Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan since 2011. By 2015, with the camps full to bursting and residents often unable to find work or educate their children, more and more people decided to seek asylum further afield.

How did Europe's refugee crisis start? A long journey on foot In 2015 an estimated 1.5 million people made their way on foot from Greece towards western Europe via the "Balkan route". The Schengen Agreement, which allows passport-free travel within much of the EU, was called into question as refugees headed towards the wealthier European nations.

How did Europe's refugee crisis start? Desperate sea crossings Tens of thousands of refugees were also attempting the perilous journey across the Mediterranean on overcrowded boats. In April 2015, 800 people of various nationalities drowned when a boat traveling from Libya capsized off the Italian coast. This was to be just one of many similar tragedies - by the end of the year, nearly 4,000 refugees were reported to have died attempting the crossing.

How did Europe's refugee crisis start? Pressure on the borders Countries along the EU's external border struggled to cope with the sheer number of arrivals. Fences were erected in Hungary, Slovenia, Macedonia and Austria. Asylum laws were tightened and several Schengen area countries introduced temporary border controls.

How did Europe's refugee crisis start? Closing the open door Critics of German Chancellor Angela Merkel's "open-door" refugee policy claimed it had made the situation worse by encouraging more people to embark on the dangerous journey to Europe. By September 2016, Germany had also introduced temporary checks on its border with Austria.

How did Europe's refugee crisis start? Striking a deal with Turkey In early 2016, the EU and Turkey signed an agreement under which refugees arriving in Greece could be sent back to Turkey. The deal has been criticized by human rights groups and came under new strain following a vote by the European Parliament in November to freeze talks on Turkey's potential accession to the EU.

How did Europe's refugee crisis start? No end in sight With anti-immigration sentiment in Europe growing, governments are still struggling to reach a consensus on how to handle the continuing refugee crisis. Attempts to introduce quotas for the distribution of refugees among EU member states have largely failed. Conflicts in the Middle East and elsewhere show no signs coming to an end, and the death toll from refugee sea crossings is on the rise. Author: Rachel Stewart



'Dangerous logic'

In an interview with the Bild daily published Friday, SPD chairman Martin Schulz called on CSU leader Horst Seehofer to remind Orban of his obligations under EU laws on refugees, telling the Bild newspaper in an interview published on Friday that the Hungarian prime minister was following a "dangerous logic."

He said Orban was torpedoing the refugee distribution scheme, engineered largely by Merkel, in total disregard for EU law, despite being required by the scheme to take in just 1,920 refugees

Countries such as Hungary and Poland were acting "as if the issue of refugees were only a matter for Germany," adding that the EU was "not a supermarket where everyone took what suited them," but a community bound by law.

Read more: In Hungary, Viktor Orban's favorite mayor goes on a shopping spree

Seehofer has defended Orban's visit, saying it was important to keep dialogue open with the Hungarian leader.

Another less controversial visitor to the CSU party conference was former boxer Vitali Klitschko, now the mayor of the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv. Klitschko is an outspoken advocate of moving Ukraine toward the European Union.

Living in the jungle: Refugees stranded at the Serbian-Croatian border Odd one out Dragan (center), a Macedonian migrant, is hidden in the forests near the Serbian-Croatian border, as he tries to cross to central Europe with other migrants from Arab countries. Dragan, along with one Chinese migrant, is an oddity among the hundreds of Syrians and Afghans stranded in Šid, Serbia

Living in the jungle: Refugees stranded at the Serbian-Croatian border Plotting their next move Afghan asylum seekers on the roof of an old abandoned factory in Sid, which serves as a temporary abode, while away their time as they plot their next move to try and reach a western European country.

Living in the jungle: Refugees stranded at the Serbian-Croatian border Risking their lives Migrants walk on the railway tracks which connect Serbia and Croatia near the northern village of Sid, Serbia. According to reports, two people were hit by a train after they had fallen asleep on the tracks.

Living in the jungle: Refugees stranded at the Serbian-Croatian border Living in the "Jungle" More than 150 people are hidden in the so-called jungle — an area with dense bushes next to the train lines which connect Serbia and Croatia. Most have tried to cross to western Europe in different ways: either with the help of smugglers, alone or in groups, by jumping on trucks or hiding in freight train wagons.

Living in the jungle: Refugees stranded at the Serbian-Croatian border Washing away the dirt Ibrahim from Afghanistan washes himself in a cold stream under a bridge near the Serbian village of Sid. Hundreds of refugees and migrants live in untenable conditions, without basic facilities and amenities.

Living in the jungle: Refugees stranded at the Serbian-Croatian border Breakfast on wheels "No Name Kitchen" is run by a small group of volunteers who distribute breakfast and provide help to refugees and migrants stranded on the Serbian-Croatian border. The authorities have largely abandoned the refugees.

Living in the jungle: Refugees stranded at the Serbian-Croatian border Maybe next time Jadali, 22, from Afghanistan, had just returned to Sid following a failed attempt to reach western Europe. He was stuck in jail in Croatia for two days before being released by the authorities, who, as he claims, treated him roughly.

Living in the jungle: Refugees stranded at the Serbian-Croatian border Food, glorious food Two migrants cook dinner for those who gather in the abandoned factory during the evenings near the Serbian border village. Hundreds of asylum seekers face hunger, hardship, injuries and daily violence as they try to survive in the middle of nowhere.

Living in the jungle: Refugees stranded at the Serbian-Croatian border Tracks of my tears A migrant walks towards a freight train. Moments later he will try to hide in an abandoned wagon in an attempt to cross the Croatian border and eventually reach another European country.

Living in the jungle: Refugees stranded at the Serbian-Croatian border Next stop western Europe? Those who can afford more expensive smuggling methods choose to pay taxis to take them across Croatia. The price for a ride is around €1,200 ($1,400). Author: Dimitris Tosidis (Serbia)



rs, tj/rc (dpa, AFP)