The European Union on Thursday, August 1, demanded that Hungary respond to fears that Budapest's decision to ease visa rules for Russian and Belarusian citizens increases the risk of espionage in the bloc, Euractiv reports, UNN writes.
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Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban - the only EU leader to maintain close ties with the Kremlin since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 - signed a decree earlier this month to extend its fast-track visa program to eight countries, including Russia and Belarus.
The immigration program allows citizens of these countries to apply for so-called "national cards" to be able to work in Hungary. Previously, these cards were only available to citizens of Ukraine and Serbia.
Earlier this week, the largest group in the European Parliament complained that the relaxed rules could create serious loopholes for espionage, as Russia tries to target the EU during the war in Ukraine.
EU Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson said she agreed with the concerns and sent a letter to Budapest asking it to respond to the list of questions by August 19.
"Russia is a security threat. We need more, not less vigilance. Allowing potential Russian spies and saboteurs easy access to the EU will undermine the security of all of us," Johansson wrote in X.
"In today's letter, I ask the Hungarian government to explain. If their easy access scheme poses a risk, we will act," she said.
Orban has already drawn the ire of fellow EU leaders by flying to Moscow on July 5 to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin, just days after his country took over the six-month rotating EU presidency.