EC asks Hungary to explain it isn’t opening door for Russian spies with new work visa scheme

Ylva Johansson, the European Commissioner for Home Affairs, has written to Hungarian Interior Minister Sándor Pintér about the government's previously adopted decree that included Belarus and Russia on the list of countries whose nationals can apply for Hungarian 'National Cards'. Manfred Weber, president of the European People's Party, had previously expressed concern that the new regulation would open the Schengen area before Russian spies.

It is for this reason that Johansson asked Pintér to explain how Hungary intends to secure itself against Russian spies. She said that if the Hungarian government did not provide the necessary answers, the European Commission "will act".

The European Commission has previously indicated that it is in contact with the Hungarian authorities to seek clarification on the new visa regime. The EC is mainly interested in clarifying what these rules cover and whether they concern EU standards.

It was last December that the Hungarian Parliament adopted a proposal for an overhaul of the current rules on the entry and residence of non-EU nationals in Hungary. The government justified the change by saying that the previous legislation, adopted in 2007 needed to be amended because it was adopted before the migration waves. According to them, in case of the old legislation "the guiding principle was admission, and even in the case of illegality on the part of the foreigner, the primary concern was to guarantee their rights" rather than " to enforce lawful behavior".

The newly adopted legislation introduced the so-called National Card, which entitles the holder to reside in Hungary for a fixed period of more than 90 days within 180 days, but for a maximum of two years, and is valid for a maximum of two years. Among other countries, the document can be issued to citizens of Russia and Belarus if they possess the required qualifications.