ShOne day after the deadline set by Brussels to respond to a letter from the Community executive, the European Commission’s spokeswoman for home affairs, Anita Heber, indicated today at a press conference at the institution’s headquarters in Brussels that she had not yet received any clarification from Hungary.
“We have not received any response, but we know that a response is being prepared and we are in contact with the Hungarian authorities,” Anita Heber explained.
According to the spokeswoman, “it is not only a matter of having a valid visa or residence permit, but also of implementing strict security controls,” which is why she pointed out that Hungary “always adheres to the Schengen rules,” the European Union’s borderless area.
The reaction comes after the European Commission warned Hungary earlier this month that facilitating the entry of Russian and Belarusian citizens into the Schengen area via the Hungarian border could jeopardize the security of all member states and requested detailed information.
In a letter from Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson to Hungarian Interior Minister Sándor Pénéter, the Community executive acknowledged that determining the rules for the entry of foreign citizens “remains a national competence.”
“But it is also subject to the obligation of sincere cooperation and cannot jeopardize the beneficial effect of the provisions of EU legislation,” including those relating to the Schengen area, the European Commissioner warned.
Budapest had until Monday to respond to Brussels, a response that would allow the institution to assess whether the decision to facilitate entry for citizens from Russia and Belarus is compatible with the Schengen Area rules, sanctions and security policy currently in force in member states.
The debate revolves around the Hungarian government’s decision to facilitate the entry of Belarusian and Russian citizens, in contrast to the policy of EU member states, which have tightened the rules for these citizens since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, two and a half years ago.
“Extending the facilitation of residence and work visa procedures for citizens of Russia and Belarus could in fact lead to circumvention of the restrictions imposed by the EU. Citizens of these countries must obtain a visa to enter the borders of Russia (the Schengen area) and are therefore subject to a high level of scrutiny,” said Ylva Johansson.
The European Commissioner also noted that the screening also determines whether these citizens “represent a risk to the security of the Member States.”
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