EU increases pressure on Hungary over rules restricting migration

The European Commission said on Thursday it was intensifying its legal procedure against Hungary over Budapest's criminalising of support for migrants, moving the case closer to a possible ruling by the European Court of Justice.

"The European Commission has today decided to send a reasoned opinion to Hungary concerning legislation that criminalises activities that support asylum and residence applications and further restricts the right to request asylum," the EU executive said in a statement.