A group of 67 MEPs took the initiative by writing a letter to the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. In the letter, the deputies called the Hungarian Prime Minister’s decision irresponsible and a threat to the security of all EU member states and their citizens. The letter was initiated by Lithuanian MEP Petras Auštrevičius and Czech MEP Danuše Nerudová.
“If the Hungarian government refuses to change its policy, the Commission and all EU representatives should question the Hungarian presence in the Schengen area by introducing new measures to protect European citizens, including new controls at the Hungarian borders if necessary,” reads the letter, which was signed by MEPs on Sunday evening.
European Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson said that Brussels will take action if Hungary’s visa scheme is deemed “risky.”
In the previous month, Budapest published details of new visa rules that grant citizens of eight countries, including Russia and Belarus, permission to enter Hungary without security checks.
Also the EU’s largest party had complained before that Hungary’s decision to ease visa restrictions for Russians poses “serious national security concerns” as it opens the door to Russian spies.
It is worthy to note that early in July, 63 members of the European Parliament demanded the EU to withdraw Hungary’s voting rights in the bloc, in response to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s recent ‘peace’ tour to Moscow and Beijing.
