Hungary's recent decision to ease visa restrictions for Russian visitors has sparked significant concerns among European Union leaders, who warn it poses a national security risk. The European People’s Party (EPP), the largest political group in the EU, has criticized Budapest's move, stating it could potentially allow unvetted Russians, including spies, to travel freely across much of the EU.

 

Manfred Weber, the EPP's chair, expressed his concerns in a letter to European Council President Charles Michel. Weber's letter, which was obtained by the Financial Times, urged EU leaders to take urgent countermeasures at the next summit in October. Weber highlighted that Hungary’s new fast-track visa system for citizens of eight countries, including Russia and Belarus, bypasses essential security checks. 

 

Budapest claims that the new visa system is intended to facilitate the construction of a nuclear power plant using Russian technology. However, Weber questioned the necessity of this new immigration policy, arguing that it could create significant loopholes for espionage and allow large numbers of Russians to enter Hungary with minimal supervision, thereby posing a severe national security risk.

 

Weber's letter emphasized that the policy could undermine the integrity of the Schengen area, a borderless zone that allows free movement among its 29 member countries. He called for EU leaders to adopt stringent measures to protect the Schengen area's security and prevent other member states from implementing similar initiatives.

 

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has faced criticism from fellow EU leaders for his recent visit to Moscow, where he met with Russian President Vladimir Putin. This visit came after a stop in Kyiv and was seen by many as an attempt to broker peace talks between Russia and Ukraine. Orbán's actions have strained relations with other EU leaders, who have since refused to send their ministers to meetings held in Hungary, opting instead for rescheduling in Brussels.

 

Under EU rules, national governments retain authority over legal migration and work permits. While Russians are not banned from traveling to the EU, sanctions imposed since the 2022 war have restricted Russian airlines from flying into the bloc, and many individuals connected to the Kremlin face travel bans and asset freezes.

 

The EPP, once Orbán's political family until his expulsion in 2021 due to concerns over his increasingly autocratic rule, has distanced itself from Orbán’s Fidesz party. Fidesz has since allied with far-right parties in the EU assembly, including France’s Marine Le Pen. Orbán’s pro-Russia stance has also strained Hungary’s relationship with Poland, a former ally. 

 

Recently, Orbán accused Poland of having a hypocritical policy by indirectly purchasing Russian oil, a claim that Polish officials have vehemently denied. Polish deputy foreign minister Władysław Teofil Bartoszewski questioned Hungary’s continued membership in the EU, suggesting Orbán should consider aligning with authoritarian states like Russia if he feels the EU treats Hungary poorly.

 

Credit: F.T.  2024-07-31

 

 

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Perhaps Hungary will become an intelligence bonanza for us,I’m sure there are many disaffected Hungarians not happy with their dictator .hopefully the nato intelligence is drying up and or misleading!

Well it's either that or the place crawling with american spies who are no better and if fact perhaps more clumsy if trained by the Secret Service !!!

9 hours ago, Social Media said:

it could potentially allow unvetted Russians, including spies

 

OMG, this is yet another witch hunt!

Hungary's Quisling, Viktor Orban, should ask his parents what it was like living under Russian sunjugation and why thousands of Hungarians lost their lives and fled the country in a popular uprising against Russia in 1956. Now that Orban seems to want them back it is time for the Hungarians to get rid of him.

Ooh. Reds under the bed. Is that the best they can do? Western propaganda isn't very good these days.

Russians living abroad in Europe,  6.2 million people in 2020.  The Europeans are morons, what have they done about the 6 odd million already there, absolutely nothing. Straight propaganda.

"A more aggressive strategy would seek to punish, defeat, and reestablish effective deterrence with the Kremlin. Vladimir Putin is a mobster, and Western thinking should acknowledge this."".

 

About time the Politicians got off their FAT A$$E%, in Europe, and pretended that they had BALLS  !

13 hours ago, Social Media said:

it could potentially allow unvetted Russians, including spies, to travel freely across much of the EU.

I can't believe Europe vets every Russian on holiday.

4 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Ooh. Reds under the bed. Is that the best they can do? Western propaganda isn't very good these days.

 

4 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Ooh. Reds under the bed. Is that the best they can do? Western propaganda isn't very good these days.

 

Right on cue our senior Putin apologist arrives at the scene.

 

Did you miss these bits? Don't you think that they are legitimate concerns?

 

"Weber highlighted that Hungary’s new fast-track visa system for citizens of eight countries, including Russia and Belarus, bypasses essential security checks"

 

"Weber's letter emphasized that the policy could undermine the integrity of the Schengen area, a borderless zone that allows free movement among its 29 member countries. He called for EU leaders to adopt stringent measures to protect the Schengen area's security and prevent other member states from implementing similar initiatives".

OK, maybe Brexit wasn't such a bad idea.

1 hour ago, Woof999 said:

OK, maybe Brexit wasn't such a bad idea.

 

A huge body of evidence would suggest otherwise 

Orban is the only one that has any sense. NATO should have been disbanded years ago it only serves to maintain US influence in Europe.

7 hours ago, The Old Bull said:

Orban is the only one that has any sense. NATO should have been disbanded years ago it only serves to maintain US influence in Europe.

NATO serves to check Russian aggression it’s obviously needed now more than ever!

8 hours ago, The Old Bull said:

Orban is the only one that has any sense. NATO should have been disbanded years ago it only serves to maintain US influence in Europe.

Quite right too. France and Britain have nuclear deterrence, so let Europe pay for NATO forces.