Lithuania has turned to the European Commission over Hungary’s decision to ease entry restrictions for Russian and Belar...
Earlier this month, Hungary announced a new facilitated visa scheme under which citizens of eight countries, including Russia and Belarus, can enter Hungary without security checks or other restrictions. Budapest claims that many of those entering under this scheme will be building a nuclear power plant.
“We are unpleasantly surprised by media reports that Hungary has included Russian and Belarusian citizens in its national immigration programme, which will allow them to enter and move freely within the Schengen area,” Lithuania’s Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis said in a written statement.
“In Lithuania’s view, Hungary’s decision poses very serious threats to the security of the Schengen area and many European countries, and must therefore be responded to at the EU level,” the Lithuanian foreign minister said.
The minister believes that Hungary’s decision requires a separate assessment at a time when European countries are facing an increasing number of acts of sabotage, which this reinforces the urgency of finding an adequate response to such a stance by one member state.
They can decide whatever they want. They just have to live with the consequences. We don't want easy entry for Russian and Belarusian citizens (which is, in turn, our right). So if you want to allow these citizens free access to your country, fine. But don't expect us to then also grant you free access to ours.
In 2022, the EU imposed sanctions on Russia and Belarus after Russia launched a full-scale war in Ukraine. While they do not ban Russians from travelling to the EU…
The problem here is apparently Orban, just read the full article. That aside, I fully support @Quittenbrot's response in this thread ('Kick them out of Schengen and block the borders').
Edit: @Successful_Try543 also has a good proposal imo ('suspend it’s membership using article 7 of EU treaty in case of severe violation of human rights').
I don't think, granting people easy visa rights that shouldn't get them for good security reasons can be considered a severe violation of human rights though.
While the human rights situation in Hungary is also getting worse, i also doubt it to qualify as "severe" yet. At least so far none of the other EU countries have used that as a formal reason and Germany was happy to deport a queer antifascist to Hungary just a few weeks back, for allegedly having attacked Nazis there. This definetly should not have had happened, but goes to show how far away from calling Hungary out on human rights violations we still are.
Problem with border patrols though is that they don't work against Schengen visas anyways afaik. If you are a legal resident in one EU country, you can travel inside the Schengen area.
? I obviously read the article, the quote is part of what you omitted from it. And then, you say the problem is Orban? What kind of nonsensical answer is that? Some think his policies are, and this specific policy might be debatable. How about that?
Edit: If the EU will claim Hungary is severely violating human rights by allowing people to cross its border, my faith in this project will be at its end.
@bungalowtill fällt seit langem durch Kommentare auf, die Europa oder den Westen generell in ein schlechtes Licht rücken, und zwar vor allem dann, wenn es um ein Thema im Zusammenhang mit Russland oder China geht. Da gibt es leider immer noch einige andere, die ähnlich agieren. Sie suchen ein Detail raus, setzen es in einen anderen Kontext, und schon macht der Westen wieder alles falsch.
Das ist hier auch so. Es werden einfach selektiv Probleme beschrieben, die zwar überzeugend klingen, für den Sachverhalt aber irrelevant sind und nicht stimmen. (Um ein Beispiel zu nennen: Kein Mensch sagt, dass aus Russland niemand in die EU einreisen darf. Diese Behauptung von bungalowtill ist einfach falsch. Aber es hilft, denn Westen schlecht aussehen zu lassen, während gleichzeitig keine Kritik an Orban oder Putin gemacht wird.)
I don't speak German (other than DU HAST!), but I had ChatGPT translate it for me.
I'm not familiar with the user, but I wanted to know their reasoning. Nothing wrong with pointing out if EU or "the West" is doing something wrong, as long as it's constructive, and no blatant bias towards another party is displayed. So far I'm not seeing any explicit bias towards Russia or China, but thanks for the heads-up.
Their argument seems to boil down to "fighting Orban weakens EU". I suppose it's a somewhat reasonable position to have, but one, I must say, I don't quite agree with. And I would definitely like to hear their suggestion regarding how to deal with a member of a team who refused to play with the team.
Dir fall ich vor allem deshalb auf, weil ich deine tagtägliche Propaganda zur Bedrohung des Abendlandes störe. Jeden Tag, mindestens 20 Artikel über im Prinzip nichts anderes. Nur am Wochenende gibt‘s nichts von dir. Die selektive Auswahl geht offensichtlich bei dir los. Und ich übe hier Einwände. Ich habe gehofft wir können einfach ein bisschen streiten aber diese Art der Antwort ist schon diffamierend. Passt aber irgendwie ins Schema. Selten, dass deine Antworten über seltsame Gegenfragen hinausgehen. Eine Diskussion findet mit dir nie statt.
Mich wird es nicht abhalten deine Posts in Frage zu stellen, auch wenn du jetzt zur Diffamierung übergehst.
Edit:
Um ein Beispiel zu nennen: Kein Mensch sagt, dass aus Russland niemand in die EU einreisen darf. Diese Behauptung von bungalowtill ist einfach falsch
Du bist echt geil drauf, wo hab ich das denn geschrieben?
I am not against Russians entering the EU. In contrast to many German politicians who were talking about offering Russians asylum after the war had started but never implemented these promises. The article implies Russians entering Europe would cause sabotage and what not, claiming previous sabotage as evidence. That doesn‘t make much sense. Denying Russians entry to the EU rather pushes them to an anti EU and pro Putin stance. I think this is a mistake.
Overall a difficult question. But I do know how hard it is to get a Schengen Visa for a Russian citizen, contrary to what the article implies. And I am pretty sure the Hungarians won‘t just wave them in now. There‘s definitely a lot of control over who‘s coming to the EU. And I am pretty sure this won‘t decrease.
Yes I am sure it is in Putin‘s interest to weaken the EU. But I think in this conflict with Orban the EU is weakening itself a lot more than Putin or Orban could ever do. By fracturing the EU. Freaking out over Russian Visas for example.
Trying to remain calm and focused. Not freaking out when he‘s going to Putin and Xi and claiming he pretended to go on the EU‘s behalf. Not pulling stunts like sending minor officials to Hungary‘s EU meetings.
Who is fracturing the EU? The one person working with Russia and against EU wherever he can or the other 20 something that have a more or less unified position?
I think the awkward moves of the commission to ostracise Hungary by not attending its meetings and trying to subvert its council presidency did cause some consternation in other states of the EU as well. Accusing him of pretending to visit Russia and China on behalf of the EU was pretty laughable, too, because everybody knew he wasn‘t. I am really not a fan of Orban, but this doesn‘t make the EU look good or strong.
I agree, every country neighbouring Hungary can reestablish the border controls and keep russian "tourists" or chinese "policemen" out if they want to.