The European Parliament wants to suspend Hungary’s membership in the Schengen area because of the country’s decision to make Russian nationals’ entry easier.
On September 18, the European Parliament held a debate on Hungary’s decision to ease entry for Russians and Belarusians, where MEPs called for a retaliatory suspension of Hungary’s membership in the Schengen area. This was reported by Telex.
During the debate, European Commission representative Stella Kyriakides noted that Hungary had simplified entry for two countries hostile to the EU, which raises questions against the backdrop of increased Russian sabotage in Europe.
She recalled that the European Commission had twice asked the Hungarian authorities about the Hungarian measures, as they still did not understand why it was necessary.
The MEPs who spoke, ranging from the centre-right European People’s Party to the Socialists and the Greens, generally criticised the Hungarian measures.
Csaba Molnar, a Hungarian MEP from the opposition Democratic Coalition party, argued that the Hungarian government had opened the door for spies, Russia’s sleeper agents, and war criminals.
The main speaker from the Liberals, Fabienne Keller, said that the European Commission had not responded adequately and therefore called on the EU Council and member states to “consider suspending Hungary’s membership in the Schengen area.”
A representative of the “soft” Eurosceptics from the “European Conservatives and Reformists,” Maciej Wasik, insisted that there should be no easing of sanctions against Russia, including visa sanctions, saying that “Putin’s Russia must be isolated.”
In July Hungary published details of a new visa fast-track system for citizens of eight countries, including Russia and Belarus, who will be able to enter Hungary without security checks or other restrictions.
Budapest said that many of them will build a nuclear power plant using Russian technology.
Hungary’s decision sparked criticism from many EU nations, while Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto claimed that it does not pose a risk to the Schengen area.
