In the past decade, European countries have introduced new laws to address the increasingly pressing migrant and refugee crisis. These laws either complicate or facilitate the entry and lives of migrants and refugees in these countries. The European Union (EU) also requires cooperation among member states to manage this crisis, and it strives to implement policies that ensure the balanced distribution of people across countries and their access to humane living standards. However, not all European countries act under a unified migration policy. Each country has its own migration policies and laws, which sometimes conflict with EU policies.
Two countries that stand out for having differing views on migration policies compared to the EU in the growing migrant and refugee crisis are Poland and Hungary. Hungary’s Prime Minister, Viktor Orban, who has been in office since 2010, is known for his nationalist rhetoric. Orban has occasionally criticized the EU’s approach to the migrant crisis, and the Budapest government opposes some of the EU’s proposed migration reforms.
Orban, who has expressed that they will not turn the country into a destination for migrants and do not want to see minorities with different cultures and backgrounds in the country, emphasized the importance of preserving Hungary’s identity. In 2015, Orban opposed the European Commission’s proposal to distribute refugees across countries through mandatory quotas, and Hungary began constructing a 175 km barrier along the Serbian border. In this regard, it is evident that the Orban government’s asylum and migration policies have not undergone significant changes since the beginning of the migrant crisis. Orban and his government have stated that they will continue to enforce strict border policies.
Moreover, the Orban government has stated that it will take steps to increase border controls and stop illegal migration in order to protect national security. In parallel, there have been recent discussions about Hungary’s desire to withdraw from EU migration and asylum regulations in the event of a future agreement change. The government has also opposed the European Court of Justice’s ruling regarding the enforcement of the EU’s asylum procedures. In June, the EU’s High Court ruled that Hungary must make a lump-sum payment of 200 million euros and a daily fine of 1 million euros. This figure has now exceeded 300 million euros and continues to grow.[i]
Despite the EU’s sanctions, the Hungarian government appears to be maintaining its stance on migration policies. Orban describes the migration issue as an “existential problem” for Europe and emphasizes that he will never allow refugees into the country. Regarding the matter, Orban has expressed concerns that the migration issue could threaten the unity of the EU, stating that signs of this process can already be observed. In short, Orban argues that migrants and refugees pose a risk not only to Hungary but also to the overall security and unity of Europe.
Recently, Hungarian Parliamentary Secretary Bence Rétvári stated that the EU is pressuring Hungary to accept refugees into the country. As a result, he mentioned that the government is determined to provide illegal migrants with one-way tickets to Brussels, the center of the EU, and send them there.[ii] This plan came to the fore following EU fines imposed on Hungary.
Poland is another European country that has taken a different approach to the EU’s migration policies. In 2023, the country, alongside Hungary, notably opposed the EU Migration Reform. Since the onset of the Russia-Ukraine war in 2022, Poland has become the country that has accepted the largest number of Ukrainian refugees. This situation could indicate a new shift in Poland’s migration policies.
Similar to Orban’s stance, Poland’s then-Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki accused Germany and Polish opposition leaders of cooperating to enforce new EU laws that impose fines on countries if they refuse to accept people from the Middle East and Africa.[iii] Donald Tusk, who took power from the conservative party, has adopted a more liberal and pro-EU stance and was known for his critical views on the government’s migration policies before coming to office. While Tusk, who assumed office following the 2023 elections, shows some similarities with Orban in his policies towards migrants and refugees, there are significant differences in the factors shaping Tusk’s and Orban’s migration policies. The most notable of these is the issue of Russia.
Poland’s approach could make it more difficult to establish a more comprehensive migration policy framework within the EU. Additionally, adopting different attitudes towards different refugee groups may invite criticism of discrimination and double standards. It can be argued that tensions with Russia and Belarus have influenced the shaping of Poland’s migration policies.
It is still uncertain whether the EU will make any changes to its migration and asylum policies in the future. However, the possibility of changes cannot be overlooked if external factors, such as Russia, come into play. Looking at the case of Poland, the likelihood of such changes can be assessed. It remains unclear whether the current policies of Poland and Hungary will mitigate the effects of the migration wave compared to other EU countries or produce long-term consequences. The effectiveness of the EU’s existing migration policies in achieving the desired outcomes is also a topic of debate. Nevertheless, if Poland and Hungary succeed in controlling migration flows, this could serve as an example for policy changes in other countries.
In light of these developments, despite Poland and Hungary’s divergence from the EU in their migration policies, there currently appears to be no risk to the membership of either country. However, deepening disagreements over migration policies in the future could increase the likelihood of different factions emerging within the EU. Indeed, Poland and Hungary’s noncompliance with the established refugee quotas among EU countries could place additional burdens on other member states, potentially leading to internal unrest.
[i] “Hungary seeks opt-out from EU’s asylum and migration regulations”, Intelli News, https://www.intellinews.com/hungary-seeks-opt-out-from-eu-s-asylum-and-migration-regulations-347152/, (Access Date: 18.10.2024).
[ii] “We never let them in”: Hungary’s PM Viktor Orbán demands new laws tackling migration”, Euronews, https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2024/09/06/we-never-let-them-in-hungarys-pm-viktor-orban-demands-new-laws-tackling-migration, (Access Date: 18.10.2024).
[iii] “Poland, Hungary stand alone in opposing EU migration reform”, Reuters, https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/eu-looks-future-summit-migration-enlargement-2023-10-06/, (Access Date: 18.10.2024).
