Budapest recently drew criticism from its EU peers for easing visa rules for Russians
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk warned on Friday of Hungary’s potential expulsion from the Schengen Area – a move proposed as punishment after Budapest eased its entry rules for Russians.
Last month, Budapest extended its special visa regime – the National Card system – to include Russian and Belarusian citizens. The scheme allows foreigners to work in Hungary for up to two years and paves the way for them to apply for permanent residency.
Hungary’s initiative attracted attention after the chairman of the European People’s Party, Manfred Weber, criticised it in a letter to European Council President Charles Michel, claiming that the new scheme could make it easier to “Russian spies” to enter the block.
Earlier this week, a group of 67 members of the EU Parliament sent an official letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen demanding that Hungary be punished if it refuses to change its visa policy. One of the signatories, Finnish MEP Tytti Tuppurainen, proposed introducing border controls with Hungary and ultimately excluding it from the Schengen Area if its new visa requirements are not changed.
According to Tusk, drastic measures are not advisable. “Exclusion from the Schengen Area is in fact a prelude to exclusion from the EU”, he said at a press conference on Friday.
“I would be careful here… I tried very hard to remove [Hungarian Prime Minister] Viktor Orban and his International Group party… but I would be careful with motions to expel countries from the EU,” Tusk, a staunch critic of what he called Budapest “Russian position” added.
He said he did not know all the details of Hungary’s visa decision, but “At first glance… it appears that provisions of European law have been violated, together with regulations relating to security risks to Schengen countries.” Tusk noted that Hungary is not the only EU country that grants visas to Belarusians and Russians, so punishing it would not prevent them from entering the bloc.
Poland has been a key supporter of Kiev amid the Russia-Ukraine conflict, sending military aid and serving as a hub for Western arms supplies. Hungary, however, has opposed funding and arming Kiev.
Orban has been calling for a diplomatic solution to the conflict, and embarked on what he called a “peacekeeping mission” in Ukraine last month, holding talks with Kiev and Moscow to urge them to negotiate. His actions, including a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, drew criticism within the EU, with some members calling for the rotating EU presidency that Hungary currently holds to be revoked.
Brussels has so far responded to criticism of Hungary’s new visa rules by asking Budapest to officially explain the move. The EU is expected to address the issue at its summit in October.