EU Dwelling Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson on Thursday has raised issues a couple of new Hungarian visa rule for international staff from Russia and Belarus.
It have to be ensured that “Russian nationals who might pose espionage or different safety threats face the very best degree of scrutiny,” Johansson wrote in a letter to the Hungarian Inside Minister Sándor Pintér, which she shared on social media platform X.
Johansson wrote that the scheme threatens to undermine the safety of Europe’s passport-free Schengen journey space and referred to as on the Hungarian authorities to clarify itself.
Hungary has beforehand operated a particular visa regime for international staff from Ukraine and Serbia. Budapest expanded the principles in July to eight international locations, together with guests from Russia and Belarus.
In accordance with the visa rules, international staff could keep for 2 years after which have their keep prolonged for 3 years at a time – for as typically as they need.
International staff might also work in any occupation. Nevertheless, as a way to profit from the regulation, they have to show that they’ve a job, lodging and medical health insurance in Hungary.
The rules have sparked outrage within the EU in latest days. European Individuals’s Celebration’s (EPP) Chairman Manfred Weber warned European Council President Charles Michel in a letter that the visa liberalization transfer might pose a “critical threat” to EU safety.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s authorities is seen as near Russia by different EU member states.
Orbán got here beneath fierce criticism from different EU international locations for latest visits to Kiev, Moscow and Beijing on a self-proclaimed “peace mission” to finish the Ukraine struggle.
