Controversial special regulation: Hungary lures guest workers from Russia – outrage in the EU

There is outrage in the European Union over advantageous Hungarian special rules for guest workers from Russia and Belarus. Given the geopolitical context of EU relations with Russia and Belarus, such a mechanism is highly questionable and raises very serious security concerns, wrote top representatives of the European party family EPP to EU Council President Charles Michel.

The move could create serious loopholes for espionage activities and allow a large number of Russians to enter Hungary and the border-free Schengen area with minimal surveillance. Specifically, the EPP leaders are calling on the EU Council President to examine the situation and have it discussed at the next EU summit.

The aim must be to take strict measures to protect the integrity of the Schengen area, limit the security risk that has already arisen and prevent other member states from taking similar initiatives in the future, says the letter, which has been made available to the German Press Agency. It was signed by, among others, the German EPP chairman and CSU MEP Manfred Weber.

EU Commission announces review

Hungary has had special rules for guest workers for some time. However, they previously only applied to Ukrainians and Serbs and were only extended this month to include people from Russia and its partner country Belarus. According to the rules, guest workers can come for two years and then extend their stay for three years at a time as often as they want. They can work in whatever profession they want. However, in order to benefit from the rules, they must prove that they have a job, accommodation and health insurance in Hungary.

The European Commission, which is responsible for monitoring compliance with EU law, announced that it would contact the Hungarian authorities to obtain further information on the special regulation. Russia is considered a security threat to the EU, said a spokeswoman in Brussels.

She stressed that Hungary is obliged to always check whether people entering the country from third countries meet all the conditions set out in Article 6 of the Schengen Borders Code. This includes not only the possession of a visa or a valid residence permit, but also the condition that the person must not be listed by other states in the Schengen Information System for the purpose of refusing entry.

The government of the right-wing populist Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban is constantly making headlines with its close contacts with Russia. Most recently, Orban traveled to Moscow for talks with Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin without consulting his EU partners. This was met with criticism – especially because Hungary currently holds the rotating EU Council Presidency.