Hungary responded to Brussels’ request for an evidence over its easing of entry necessities for Russian and Belarusian nationals on Wednesday (21 August), dismissing issues about potential safety dangers to the bloc’s Schengen border-free journey zone.
The letter, made public by Hungary’s Europe Minister János Bóka and addressed to EU House Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson, got here after a European Fee deadline for Hungary to reply to questions concerning the easing of entry necessities for Russian and Belarusian nationals expired on Monday (19 August).
The deadline got here after Johansson warned Hungary earlier this month that its choice to ease visa restrictions for Russian and Belarussian nationals posed a possible safety menace and mentioned she would take motion if her issues weren’t addressed.
Hungary’s immigration programme, lately opened to Russia and Belarus, permits “visitor employees” to remain within the nation for 2 years, renewable for an additional three years, and may pave the way in which for everlasting residency.
EU officers and lots of the bloc’s member states have voiced concern that the transfer might be used as a backdoor for Russian spies and saboteurs to enter the EU’s border-free Schengen zone.
“The Nationwide Card will probably be issued in accordance with the related EU framework and with due consideration of the doable safety dangers concerned,” Hungarian Inside Minister Sándor Pintér wrote within the letter.
Candidates can be topic to the identical rigorous screening course of as for different permits, Pintér harassed.
“On this respect, the Hungarian laws and apply, which the Fee has not objected to thus far, has not modified,” Pintér mentioned, including that an annexe to his letter, which has not been made public, would supply detailed solutions to the questions posed by Brussels.
“Hungary continues to position nice emphasis on the safety of its nationwide safety and the safety of the Schengen space as a complete,” he added.
Boká, in the meantime, mentioned that solely “a fraction of Russian and Belarus residents residing within the EU are in Hungary, and Hungary is accountable for a fraction of residence permits issued”.
A European Fee spokesperson confirmed the receipt of the letter to Euractiv on Wednesday however didn’t specify what the subsequent steps might be.
“We simply acquired the letter. We might want to analyse it,” she mentioned.
[Edited by Daniel Eck]
