Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán‘s recent actions have sparked criticism from his EU colleagues as they directly challenge EU security measures. After assuming the presidency of the EU Council for six months, Orbán visited Moscow on July 5 to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin. During this visit, he agreed to open Hungary’s borders to Russians and Belarusians for work purposes without security checks or other restrictions. This move has raised concerns given Orbán’s known close ties with the Kremlin and Beijing. Recently, he has expanded an accelerated visa programme to include Russia and Belarus, previously limited to Ukraine and Serbia citizens.
Orbán’s actions at the national level—breaches of the Rule of Law, judiciary, academic independence, and media freedom—cost Hungary billions of euros frozen in Brussels. His pro-Russia stance translated into attempts to prevent any assistance to Ukraine, making him a pariah of EU politics. This new provocation will lead to increased isolation of him and his country. Moreover, according to Budapest, several of these Russians and Belarusians will work on constructing a nuclear power plant with Russian technology.
The EU reacted to Orbán’s decree by emphasising that it poses a security threat to the Union.
Manfred Weber, chair of the European People’s Party (EPP), the largest party in the European Parliament, said the decree could “create grave loopholes for espionage activities and potentially allow large numbers of Russians to enter Hungary with minimal supervision, posing a serious risk to national security.”
He added that it would make it easier for Russians to move around the Schengen area, bypassing the restrictions required by EU law, and called for urgent measures against Hungary.
In a letter to European Council President Charles Michel, Weber requested him to address the issue at the next leaders’ summit in October. The letter urged EU leaders to implement the strictest measures to safeguard the integrity of the Schengen area, reduce the current security risk, and prevent member states from taking similar actions in the future.
Interestingly, the Hungarian PM’s obsession is to see all his critics as enemies of Hungary. Last June, Orbán said in a radio interview in Berlin that “Manfred Weber has only one goal that is really close to his heart, and that is to harm Hungary.”
In response to these concerns, Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson wrote to the Hungarian government requesting answers by August 19. She warned Hungary that she would take action if the Schengen area were at risk.
“Russia is a security threat. We need more, not less, vigilance. Giving potential Russian spies and saboteurs easy EU access would undermine the security of us all. Today, in a letter, I asked the Hungarian government to explain. If their easy access scheme is a risk, we will act,” Commissioner Johansson posted on X.
