The significance of the Röszke Trials in the context of the European Border Regime
It’s Monday, the 27th of June 2016 and we’re standing in front of the court in Szeged, Hungary. The sun is shining, it’s warm outside, but we’re feeling queasy. We came here as a group of five in order to attend and observe the trial. When we left the court in the evening, not only the queasy feeling stayed but it was also accompanied by rage, horror, consternation and sadness.“
(N., an activist in retrospection on the trial)
The context: Summer of Migration and the Hungarian State’s Attempt to Regain Sovereignty
A sequence of decisions taken by European Governments based on the reality that was created by people migrating over the so called „Balkanroute“ constitutes the Summer of Migration and led to the establishment of a „Humanitarian Corridor“ in the course of 2015.
On the 18th of June 2015 the Macedonian government passed a law that permitted people to legally transit the country within 72 hours. This law was copied from the Serbian authorities where it was already in practice years before. Consequentially the movement of thousands of people passing this route was given a legal frame. As an effect, the route became more accessible for people who normally would have been excluded from it – be it because of ability, financial reasons or other obstacles.