Orban’s Hungary: Easier access for Putin’s spies?

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– Will Putin’s spies be able to enter the EU smoothly in the future?So far, only Ukrainians and Serbs have special rules Articles about the controversial Russian-Hungarian relationship

Will Putin’s spies be able to enter the EU smoothly in the future?

The new entry rules make it easier for Russians and Belarusians to enter the Schengen area. EU parties warn of security risks and call for a review of Hungary’s special rules.

Posted today at 4:52 PM

His policies continue to offend the EU: Viktor Orban.

Photo: EPA/Keystone

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Hungary’s preferential special rules for foreign workers from Russia and Belarus have aroused the anger of the European Union. The senior representative of the European People’s Party, a large European political party family, wrote to the President of the European Council Charles Michel that, considering the geopolitical background of the EU’s relations with Russia and Belarus, this mechanism is very questionable and raises very serious security concerns.

This approach could create serious loopholes for espionage and allow large numbers of Russians to enter Hungary and the borderless Schengen area with minimal surveillance. Specifically, the top EPP representative called on the President of the EU Council to study the situation and discuss it at the next EU summit.

The letter, sent to the German news agency Deutsche Presse, said the goal must be to take strict measures to protect the integrity of the Schengen area, limit the security risks that have already emerged and prevent other member states from taking similar measures in the future.

So far, only Ukrainians and Serbs have special rules

Hungary has long had special rules for guest workers. However, these measures, which previously applied only to Ukrainians and Serbs, were only expanded this month to include people from Russia and its partner country Belarus. According to the rules, guest workers can come for two years and then extend their stay for three years if they wish. You can do whatever work you want. However, in order to benefit from the rule, they must prove that they have work, accommodation and health insurance in Hungary.

The European Commission, which oversees compliance with EU law, announced it would seek to contact Hungarian authorities to obtain further information about the particular regulation. A spokesman in Brussels said Russia is considered a security threat to the EU.

She stressed that Hungary is obliged to always check whether travelers from third countries meet all the conditions set out in Article 6 of the Schengen Borders Code. This includes not only the possession of a visa or a valid residence permit, but also the condition that they must not be registered in the Schengen Information System as a refusal of entry by another country.

The government of right-wing populist Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has repeatedly made headlines for its close contacts with Russia. Most recently, Orban travelled to Moscow for talks with Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin without coordinating with his EU partners. This has been criticized – especially because Hungary currently holds the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union.