A group of 70 members of the European Parliament (EP) has asked the European Commission to suspend Hungary’s accession to the Schengen area after Budapest decided to relax visa requirements for citizens of eight countries, including Russia and Belarus.
This was reported by Politico’s European edition, the Report reported, citing TASS.
Czech and Lithuanian MEPs Danushe Nerudova and Petras Ausztryavicius sent a letter to the European Commission calling for urgent measures to investigate Hungary’s decision. According to the authors of the letter, the decision could potentially jeopardise the role of the Schengen area as a “safe space” for citizens of member states. “If the Hungarian government refuses to change its policy”, the European Commission and all EU members “should question Hungary’s presence in the Schengen area”, the MEPs said. The measures proposed in the letter include the introduction of checks at the Hungarian borders and the non-recognition of Hungarian visas.
The publication reports that the letter has attracted around 70 signatures, including former prime ministers of Belgium and Ireland. Their names have not been mentioned.
Earlier it was reported that Hungary had decided to relax visa requirements, including for Russian citizens. On 30 July, the European Commission asked Hungary for clarification on this step. On 1 August, Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics demanded that Hungary’s accession to Schengen be limited due to the visa facilitation for Russian citizens.
