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Ever since Hungary allowed Russians and Belarusians to enter the country with visas, Brussels has reacted with fury, with 63 MEPs calling for the EU commission to suspend Hungary’s membership of the Schengen zone in a letter. The move, however, would be seen as a nuclear option that could push Hungary entirely out of the EU.
A heated debate in the European Parliament’s Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE), in the presence of Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson, broke out on Sept. 4, focusing on the extension of the Hungarian government’s National Card program, reports Index. The debate was sparked by Hungary’s extension of the program to Russian and Belarusian citizens in July.
Johansson stated that despite the Hungarian government’s explanations for offering Russian visas, she still did not understand why the move was necessary.
She stated that Russia poses a clear threat to the European Union, democracy and peace, and it is therefore particularly important to treat with caution the entry of Russian nationals into the EU.
Johansson said that the gravity of the geopolitical situation meant that strict scrutiny should be applied to those who are allowed to enter the EU. She recalled that the EU had previously suspended the facilitated visa regime for Russian and Belarusian nationals, which had led to a 90 percent drop in arrivals from the countries concerned. The commissioner said that every effort should be made to minimize the risk that Russian and Belarusian nationals could pose to the EU.
With the discussion of removing Hungary from Schengen, there are those warning that it would be the beginning of the end for Hungary’s membership in the EU and would push the country entirely out.
Prime Minister of Poland Donald Tusk, a long-time rival of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, has warned that the expulsion of Hungary from the Schengen Area also means it will leave the EU.
“Exclusion from Schengen would be the start of Hungary’s exit from the European Union too: We should be careful about excluding countries from the European Union,” said Tusk during a meeting with MEPs.
However, the option still appears to be on the table if the Hungarian government does not withdraw the controversial measure. According to Johansson, trust between member states is a fundamental pillar of the Schengen system, which can be undermined if a member state does not respect commonly agreed-upon security standards. The home affairs commissioner stated that it is the common task and responsibility of the participants in the Schengen agreement to maintain security, especially at a time when the Russian threat has become commonplace in several member states.