Polish PM Warns: Hungary's Exclusion From Schengen Would Also Mean Its Exit From the EU
Key Takeaways
1. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has warned that Hungary's expulsion from the Schengen Area could also signify its departure from the European Union.
2. Tusk’s remarks follow calls from some European politicians to exclude Hungary from the Schengen Zone after it relaxed entry rules for Russian and Belarusian nationals.
3. Hungary’s decision to include Russia and Belarus in its National Visa scheme has sparked controversy among European authorities.
Tusk cautioned that excluding Hungary from the Schengen Zone might mark the beginning of its exit from the European Union. His comments come in response to a push by approximately 70 European Parliament members, who are advocating for stricter measures against Hungary, with some even suggesting Hungary's expulsion from the EU.
Hungary’s decision to ease visa requirements for Russians and Belarusians through its National Visa scheme has raised security concerns in Europe. The scheme allows nationals from these countries to stay in Hungary for up to five years, bring their families, and fast-track visa approval within 21 days, with a pathway to permanent residency after three years.
Calls for stricter measures against Hungary have grown, with 67 European Parliament members urging EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to act if Hungary does not revise its visa policy. Critics argue that Hungary’s move poses a significant security risk to the Schengen Area, potentially facilitating Russian espionage.
In response, Hungary's Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó dismissed these concerns as "childish lies," asserting that Russian and Belarusian nationals can only enter Hungary with a visa and must comply with legal procedures to obtain residence permits.