Hungary missed the European Commission's deadline this week to respond to questions about its decision to ease entry requirements for Russian and Belarusian nationals, raising concerns across the EU.
Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson had given Budapest until 19 August to explain the changes in its immigration policy, but as of Monday afternoon, no reply had been received, the commission confirmed.
Hungary recently relaxed entry rules for Russians and Belarusians, allowing "guest workers" to stay for two years, with an option to extend for another three years.
Johansson sent a letter in August to Hungary's Interior Minister, Sándor Pintér, requesting an explanation for these changes.
“The extension of the facilitated processing of residence and work permit applications for citizens of Russia and Belarus could lead to a de facto circumvention of the restrictions the Union has imposed,” Johansson warned.
While issuing long-stay visas and residence permits is a national matter, Johansson emphasised that such schemes must be balanced to protect the integrity of the EU's border-free zone and consider potential security risks.
Some European diplomats fear these changes could pave the way for Russians and Belarusians to gain permanent residency in Hungary, threatening the security of the Schengen Area amid ongoing tensions with Russia and Belarus.
Espionage concerns
Earlier this year, several EU countries, led by the Czech Republic, pushed to ban Schengen travel for Russian diplomats due to espionage concerns. After entering the passport-free zone, Russian diplomats could potentially travel freely across the bloc.
On 15 August, eight Baltic and Nordic countries – Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, and Sweden – expressed concern that Hungary’s relaxed restrictions could increase security risks.
In a joint letter to Brussels, they stated: “Regardless of whether it falls under national or Union competence, we are worried that this decision may constitute a serious security risk to all member states.”
They welcomed Johansson’s involvement, calling Hungary’s response "of utmost importance" for ensuring EU security.
Denials from Hungary
Hungary, however, strongly denied these concerns. Foreign Minister Peter Szijjártó dismissed the allegations as “plain lies” in a statement published on social media, adding that Russian and Belarusian citizens still undergo comprehensive checks to enter and stay in Hungary.
He accused Northern European and Baltic colleagues of being "blinded by their adherence to the pro-war camp".
The issue is expected to be discussed at next week’s EU foreign and defence ministers meeting in Brussels.
Hungary currently holds the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union until 31 December 2024, but a recent meeting scheduled in Budapest was moved to Brussels due to the ongoing controversy, news site Euractiv reported.
