The Head of the Prime Minister’s Office, Gergely Gulyás, has said that at present, there are 6,000 nationals of Russia working in Hungary and 300,000 in Germany, dismissing national card concerns.
According to him, talking about national security risks is reminiscent of bad times and the expansion of the program does not put at risk the EU’s security.
Gulyás has said that the European Commission will be briefed on a decision to include Russians and Belarusians to Hungary’s National Card, even though, according to him the matter “does not concern the body”, Schengen.News reports.
Hungary’s comments came after the country missed the deadline, which was August 19, to respond to the Commission related to concerns expressed by several EU countries, regarding the potential security threats that could be brought to the bloc by the easing of entry rules for nationals of Russia and Belarus.
The Head of the Prime Minister’s Office said that objections to the program were of a political nature, adding that there were no differences in national security screenings when it came to this card. The main purpose was that those who qualified for the program did not have to apply for a work permit.
The European Commission addressed a letter to Hungary requesting explanation for the inclusion of Russians and Belarusians to the National Card, however, no official response was given up to this point.
The matter is expected to be discussed during the upcoming EU foreign ministers’ meeting, scheduled to be held on August 28.
Concerns Amount Following Hungary’s Easing of Entry Rules for Russians & Belarusians
The National Card of Hungary permits foreigners to obtain residency in this territory without being required to have high or special qualifications.
At the beginning the Card was eligible for Ukrainians and Serbs, however, recently it was expanded to include several countries as well, among them nationals of Russia and Belarus.
The decision to ease entry rules for Russians and Belarusians by allowing them to become part of this card sparked controversies among authorities in EU countries.
Recently eight Schengen countries raised concerns related to this decision.
Through a letter, the leaders of the Baltic and Nordic states said to the European Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson, that Hungary’s recent actions “may constitute a serious security risk.”
Besides, 67 members of the European Parliament sent a letter to the European Union Commission President Ursula von der Leyen calling for tightened measures for Hungary.
In addition, the Member of the Finnish Parliament, Tytti Tuppurainen, urged for the exclusion of Budapest from the Schengen Zone.
In this regard, the Prime Minister of Poland, Donald Tusk, warned that the exclusion of Hungary from the Schengen Area would be the beginning of the exit from the EU too.
