Lithuania turns to European Commission after Hungary eases entry conditions for Russians
Lithuania turns to European Commission after Hungary eases entry conditions for Russians
Lithuania has turned to the European Commission over Hungary’s decision to ease entry restrictions for Russian and Belar...
Earlier this month, Hungary announced a new facilitated visa scheme under which citizens of eight countries, including Russia and Belarus, can enter Hungary without security checks or other restrictions. Budapest claims that many of those entering under this scheme will be building a nuclear power plant.
“We are unpleasantly surprised by media reports that Hungary has included Russian and Belarusian citizens in its national immigration programme, which will allow them to enter and move freely within the Schengen area,” Lithuania’s Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis said in a written statement.
“In Lithuania’s view, Hungary’s decision poses very serious threats to the security of the Schengen area and many European countries, and must therefore be responded to at the EU level,” the Lithuanian foreign minister said.
The minister believes that Hungary’s decision requires a separate assessment at a time when European countries are facing an increasing number of acts of sabotage, which this reinforces the urgency of finding an adequate response to such a stance by one member state.
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Under EU rules, national governments have the right to decide on legal migration and work permits.
I don‘t see the problem here then.
I don‘t see the problem here then.
They can decide whatever they want. They just have to live with the consequences. We don't want easy entry for Russian and Belarusian citizens (which is, in turn, our right). So if you want to allow these citizens free access to your country, fine. But don't expect us to then also grant you free access to ours.
In 2022, the EU imposed sanctions on Russia and Belarus after Russia launched a full-scale war in Ukraine. While they do not ban Russians from travelling to the EU…
Another quote from the article.
Your idea is to exclude Hungary from Schengen?
ah I see you do. Great
The problem here is apparently Orban, just read the full article. That aside, I fully support @Quittenbrot's response in this thread ('Kick them out of Schengen and block the borders').
Edit: @Successful_Try543 also has a good proposal imo ('suspend it’s membership using article 7 of EU treaty in case of severe violation of human rights').
I don't think, granting people easy visa rights that shouldn't get them for good security reasons can be considered a severe violation of human rights though.
While the human rights situation in Hungary is also getting worse, i also doubt it to qualify as "severe" yet. At least so far none of the other EU countries have used that as a formal reason and Germany was happy to deport a queer antifascist to Hungary just a few weeks back, for allegedly having attacked Nazis there. This definetly should not have had happened, but goes to show how far away from calling Hungary out on human rights violations we still are.
Problem with border patrols though is that they don't work against Schengen visas anyways afaik. If you are a legal resident in one EU country, you can travel inside the Schengen area.
? I obviously read the article, the quote is part of what you omitted from it. And then, you say the problem is Orban? What kind of nonsensical answer is that? Some think his policies are, and this specific policy might be debatable. How about that?
Edit: If the EU will claim Hungary is severely violating human rights by allowing people to cross its border, my faith in this project will be at its end.
Could you explain your position? Are you not against Russians entering EU/Schengen? Or are you against the methods used?
I am not against Russians entering the EU. In contrast to many German politicians who were talking about offering Russians asylum after the war had started but never implemented these promises. The article implies Russians entering Europe would cause sabotage and what not, claiming previous sabotage as evidence. That doesn‘t make much sense. Denying Russians entry to the EU rather pushes them to an anti EU and pro Putin stance. I think this is a mistake.
Do you think we should be able to control who is coming from Russia into the EU?
Overall a difficult question. But I do know how hard it is to get a Schengen Visa for a Russian citizen, contrary to what the article implies. And I am pretty sure the Hungarians won‘t just wave them in now. There‘s definitely a lot of control over who‘s coming to the EU. And I am pretty sure this won‘t decrease.
There‘s definitely a lot of control over who‘s coming to the EU. And I am pretty sure this won‘t decrease.
How will it not decrease when Hungary abolished measures to control?
Do you acknowledge that it is in Russian interest to weaken the EU?
Yes I am sure it is in Putin‘s interest to weaken the EU. But I think in this conflict with Orban the EU is weakening itself a lot more than Putin or Orban could ever do. By fracturing the EU. Freaking out over Russian Visas for example.
How do you suggest EU deals with Orban while he is actively trying to ignore the rest of the leaders of member states?
By fracturing the EU.
Who is fracturing the EU? The one person working with Russia and against EU wherever he can or the other 20 something that have a more or less unified position?
I think the awkward moves of the commission to ostracise Hungary by not attending its meetings and trying to subvert its council presidency did cause some consternation in other states of the EU as well. Accusing him of pretending to visit Russia and China on behalf of the EU was pretty laughable, too, because everybody knew he wasn‘t. I am really not a fan of Orban, but this doesn‘t make the EU look good or strong.
I agree, every country neighbouring Hungary can reestablish the border controls and keep russian "tourists" or chinese "policemen" out if they want too, this isn't hard.