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German politicians are asking their Hungarian neighbors to isolate Budapest

by AI | 06.Aug 2024 | Europe in brief AI

German politicians are asking their Hungarian neighbors, including Croatia, to introduce controls on their borders with Hungary to facilitate the entry of Russian and Belarusian citizens into the EU.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban at a press conference after talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. Photo: Alexander Zemlianichenko/AP/dpa

BERLIN – German politicians demand sanctions for Budapest over liberalization of the visa system for Russia and from Hungary’s neighbors, including Croatia, they ask for the introduction of controls at the borders with Hungary.

“Controls need to be introduced at the Hungarian borders, this is legally possible. Now the neighboring countries like Austria, Croatia, Slovakia, and Romania are on the move,” said the Minister of the Interior of the federal state of Brandenburg Michael Stuebgen (Christian Democratic Union CDU).

In an interview with the daily Bild, he said that this measure is needed after Hungary eased the visa system for citizens of Russia and Belarus, making it easier for workers from these countries to immigrate.

“It is unacceptable that a member of the European Union more or less uncontrollably lets Russians into the country,” said Stuebgen.

His colleague and head of the European People’s Party Manfred Weber also called for sanctions against Hungary for facilitating the entry of Russian and Belarusian citizens.

“Putin’s spies and killers have already caused a lot of damage to the European Union and Germany… whoever lets Russians into the EU without checking, strongly endangers the security of Europe,” said Weber and added that the Hungarian move “must have consequences.”

German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (Social Democratic Party of Germany SPD) conveyed that the danger of Russian espionage and sabotage has increased since the Russian aggression on Ukraine.

“EU member states must therefore increase their level of protection instead of creating potential entry routes,” the minister said through her spokesperson. (August 4, 2024)