Hungary says it will build a fence along its border with Serbia to stem an influx of illegal migrants.
Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said on June 17 that the government instructed the Interior Ministry to "begin preparation work for a 4-meter-high fence along the length" of the 175-kilometer border.
"Immigration is one of the most serious problem facing the European Union today," Szijjarto told journalists. "The EU's countries seek a solution, but Hungary cannot afford to wait any longer."
The number of migrants and asylum seekers entering Hungary, mostly across the southern border with Serbia, has rocketed since the second half of 2014.
Officials said that so far this year, some 54,000 migrants have entered Hungary, up from 43,000 in 2014 and 2,150 in 2012.