Earlier this month, Hungary announced a new facilitated visa scheme under which citizens of eight countries, including Russia and Belarus, can enter Hungary without security checks or other restrictions. Budapest claims that many of those entering under this scheme will be building a nuclear power plant.
“We are unpleasantly surprised by media reports that Hungary has included Russian and Belarusian citizens in its national immigration programme, which will allow them to enter and move freely within the Schengen area,” Lithuania’s Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis said in a written statement.
“In Lithuania’s view, Hungary’s decision poses very serious threats to the security of the Schengen area and many European countries, and must therefore be responded to at the EU level,” the Lithuanian foreign minister said.
The minister believes that Hungary’s decision requires a separate assessment at a time when European countries are facing an increasing number of acts of sabotage, which this reinforces the urgency of finding an adequate response to such a stance by one member state.
Kick them out of Schengen and block the borders. That should make them rethink their position fairly swiftly.
How difficult would it be to kick Hungary out of the union? They don’t deserve to be in it anymore. Let them make their bed with Russia but without EU funds.
AfaIk, it’s impossible to kick it out of EU. However, it is possible to suspend it’s membership using article 7 of EU treaty in case of severe violation of human rights.
Under EU rules, national governments have the right to decide on legal migration and work permits.
I don‘t see the problem here then.
I don‘t see the problem here then.
They can decide whatever they want. They just have to live with the consequences. We don’t want easy entry for Russian and Belarusian citizens (which is, in turn, our right). So if you want to allow these citizens free access to your country, fine. But don’t expect us to then also grant you free access to ours.
In 2022, the EU imposed sanctions on Russia and Belarus after Russia launched a full-scale war in Ukraine. While they do not ban Russians from travelling to the EU…
Another quote from the article.
Your idea is to exclude Hungary from Schengen?
The problem here is apparently Orban, just read the full article. That aside, I fully support @Quittenbrot’s response in this thread (‘Kick them out of Schengen and block the borders’).
Edit: @Successful_Try543 also has a good proposal imo (‘suspend it’s membership using article 7 of EU treaty in case of severe violation of human rights’).
I don’t think, granting people easy visa rights that shouldn’t get them for good security reasons can be considered a severe violation of human rights though.
While the human rights situation in Hungary is also getting worse, i also doubt it to qualify as “severe” yet. At least so far none of the other EU countries have used that as a formal reason and Germany was happy to deport a queer antifascist to Hungary just a few weeks back, for allegedly having attacked Nazis there. This definetly should not have had happened, but goes to show how far away from calling Hungary out on human rights violations we still are.
Problem with border patrols though is that they don’t work against Schengen visas anyways afaik. If you are a legal resident in one EU country, you can travel inside the Schengen area.
? I obviously read the article, the quote is part of what you omitted from it. And then, you say the problem is Orban? What kind of nonsensical answer is that? Some think his policies are, and this specific policy might be debatable. How about that?
Edit: If the EU will claim Hungary is severely violating human rights by allowing people to cross its border, my faith in this project will be at its end.
Could you explain your position? Are you not against Russians entering EU/Schengen? Or are you against the methods used?
