German Chancellor Angela Merkel, whose country expects to receive some 800,000 migrants this year, the most of any EU country, said yesterday the migrant crisis could destroy the principle of free movement in Europe enshrined in the Schengen accord.

“If we don’t succeed in fairly distributing refugees then of course the Schengen question will be on the agenda for many,” she said at a news conference in Berlin focusing on the present hot issue.

“We stand before a huge national challenge. That will be a central challenge not only for days or months but for a long period of time.”

Over the past three days, Hungarian police said they had caught 8,792 migrants crossing into the country, most of them from Serbia and the Balkan countries.

Hungary plans to tighten laws on migration this week and also plans to set up holding camps near the Serbian border.

If we don’t succeed in fairly distributing refugees then of course the Schengen question will be on the agenda for many

The government said it may use the army to help police protect the borders if it gets the necessary parliamentary approval.

The changes will also impose stronger penalties for the illegal crossing of borders and for damaging a 175-kilometre fence being built at the Serbian border, and would enable Hungary to expel migrants violating the new rules.

Yesterday Hungary rejected French criticism of its “scandalous” efforts to protect its border from the migrants.

Refugees who managed to board the trains heading west yesterday mixed with well-heeled business travellers and tourists, some of whom were angry over the delays to their journey.

“I have a plane to catch from Vienna Airport. I took the train because of the road checks and the traffic jam ... and now this? Are you kidding me?” said Orsolya Jakab, 35, a Hungarian accountant travelling in the area.