Hungary accepts Russians without checks: EU criticism intensifies
Hungary has included citizens of Russia and Belarus in the "national card" programme, granting the right to work in the country for two years.
They will now be able to operate without going through security checks.
The move will allow Russians and Belarusians to travel freely to other EU countries, which is alarming in the context of growing Russian hybrid attacks on the EU. At the same time, Poland proposed to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban to withdraw from the EU and NATO.
European MP Sergei Lagodinsky (Greens) said:
'Entering without security checks in the face of Russia's hybrid attacks on Europe is the wrong decision. However, we should not consider all Russians as 'agents of the regime'. Orban is undermining Europe's migration system and serving the Kremlin.
In the spring, the Hungarian government said there were some 65,000 guest workers who could be reunited with their families and given permanent residence permits after three years. While other EU countries such as Finland have closed entry to Russians because of Russia's attempts to destabilise the EU.
Lithuania intends to challenge Hungary's decision to simplify entry for Russians and Belarusians at the level of the European Commission. Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis said that it poses security threats to the Schengen area and requires the EU reaction.
"We are unpleasantly surprised by the information in the media that Hungary has included citizens of Russia and Belarus in its national "immigration programme," which will allow them to freely enter and travel within the Schengen area...," he said. ," he said.
Manfred Weber, head of the European People's Party, called on the EU to take urgent action against Hungary for easing visa restrictions on Russians because it allows them to travel freely within the EU, raising serious security concerns. He sent a letter to EU President Charles Michel asking him to discuss the issue at the next summit in October.
We shall remind you that Hungary has also been criticised over the oil dispute with Ukraine. In June, Ukraine put Lukoil on a sanctions list and banned the transit of Russian oil through its territory, cutting off Hungary and Slovakia from important suppliers. Budapest accused Kiev of blackmail and demanded EU intervention. Energy expert Martin Vladimirov believes Orban is bluffing to keep Hungarian company MOL's lucrative contracts with Russia. He argues that there are alternative sources of oil and stopping supplies does not cause shortages or price increases.
Hungary and Slovakia have previously argued in favour of exemptions to EU sanctions against the Russian oil industry. Despite EU promises to reduce dependence on Russian energy, these countries have increased their dependence. At the beginning of the war, Hungary imported 50 per cent of its oil from Russia; today it imports more than 60 per cent. Slovakia is even more dependent on Russian oil. Russian companies are now trying to bring oil by sea to Hungary and Slovakia.