The Latest: Hungary's Orban says EU needs common sense

ATHENS — The latest news as hundreds of thousands make their way across Europe in search of safety and a better life. All times local.

2:55 p.m.

Hungary's strongly anti-immigration prime minister says the European Union is "weak, uncertain and paralyzed" in light of the migrant crisis.

Viktor Orban told lawmakers yesterday that the EU plan to distribute migrants among member countries is unlawful and will "spread terrorism around Europe."

Orban said no one could say for certain how many terrorists entered Europe by blending in with migrants, but "one terrorist is too many."

Orban said the EU needs to "forget political correctness ... and return to common sense" by adopting policies to protect its external borders, its culture and its economic interests and ensure that people are given the right to influence EU decisions.

Hungary has built fences on its borders with Serbia and Croatia to divert the flow of migrants.

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12:01 p.m.

Poland's new foreign minister says that young Syrian refugees in Europe could be formed into an army that could fight for Syria's freedom.

Witold Waszczykowski made the statements late Sunday on state TV. He is to be the foreign minister in the new conservative government of the Law and Justice party that is to be sworn in on yesterday.

"If hundreds of thousands of young Syrians have entered Europe, they could be formed into an army," Waszczykowski said. "With our help they could fight their country back."

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9:40 a.m.

Greek authorities say 1,244 refugees and economic migrants have been rescued from frail craft in danger over the past three days in the Aegean Sea, as thousands continue to arrive on the Greek islands.

A coast guard statement yesterday said rescuers responded to a total 34 incidents since Friday morning, near the islands of Lesbos — where most migrants head — Chios, Samos, Kos, Kalolimnos and Megisti.

The count does not include thousands more people who safely made the short but often deadly crossing from nearby Turkey's western coast.

Greece is the main point of entry for hundreds of thousands of people from the Middle East and Africa seeking a better life in Europe. Several hundreds have drowned making the crossing, which is arranged by smuggling gangs in Turkey.