GETTY Victor Orbán wants to hold back migration

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The stinging rebuke came after the European Commission president wrote to Mr Orbán accusing him of turning down help to deal with the country’s migrant crisis. Mr Juncker accused the country of a lack of solidarity by making demands on funding while rejecting the EU dictat on migrant quotas. But, in response, Mr Orbán declared himself “stunned and puzzled”, claiming Mr Juncker was trying to turn Hungary into an “immigrant country” using “violence”.

This is not solidarity, this is violence Viktor Orbán

And he claimed the president’s interpretation of solidarity went against EU legislation and Hungarian history. Mr Orbán pointed out that, in contrast to other member states, Hungary had low immigration because it had no colonial past. He wrote in a letter to Mr Juncker: “Hungary… is not an immigrant country, does not want to become an immigrant country and cannot accept being forced to change this.

GETTY Viktor Orbán is furious with the EU

“The interpretation of the principle of solidarity described in your letter is in essence the transformation of Hungary into an immigrant country, against the will of the Hungarian citizens.” He raged: “In my view, this is not solidarity, this is violence.” And the prime minister went on to say he was “stunned” by the EU’s refusal to handover £366m that would cover half the cost of border fences. The fences were put up in 2015 when the migrant crisis was at its peak.

GETTY Jean-Claude Juncker has come under fire

Mr Orbán said the fences not only defended Hungary s but also the borders of Europe from a tide of immigration. He warned: “It is impossible to defend ourselves against numerous illegal border crossing attempts without setting up physical obstacles. “If instead of defending our borders, the European Commission is willing to finance solely measures and organisations that aim to facilitate the admission of migrants, then we will only give new incentives to hundreds of thousands of migrants who wish to move to Europe, instead of curbing migration.”

The scathing response followed a letter from Mr Juncker to the prime minister this week, telling him “solidarity is a two-way street” and questioning why a relocation plan had been turned down in 2015. He wrote: "There are times in which member states may expect to receive support, and times in which they, in turn, should stand ready to contribute. "And solidarity is not an a-la-carte dish; one that can be chosen for border management, and rejected when it comes to complying with relocation decisions that have been jointly agreed. "The Commission, and I personally, remain committed to working together with Hungary towards a more efficient and fairer European migration and asylum policy, based on responsibility and solidarity.

Powerful images as migrants protest in Hungary Tue, April 4, 2017 Migrants protest outside Budapest's Keleti Railway Station after it was closed off by police to prevent people travelling on to western Europe Play slideshow REUTERS 1 of 53 A migrant taunts Hungarian riot police as they fire tear gas and water cannon on the Serbian side of the border, near Roszke