Patience in these matters is also advisable. And this critical moment with Viktor Orban in the lead role can be endured better – said Prime Minister Donald Tusk on Friday, asked about the reaction to the actions of the Hungarian government regarding visa facilitation for Russians and Belarusians. He admitted that “he would prefer Hungary to be wholeheartedly in the European Union”.
Hungary will be called for explanations by the European Commission on the scope of visa facilitations for Russians and Belarusians and their compliance with EU regulations – announced EC spokeswoman Anitta Hipper. The changes were introduced in July.
Tusk: I would prefer that we did not push the Hungarians away
Prime Minister Donald Tusk was asked during a press conference on Friday about how the EU should react to Hungary's actions. European Union and whether one of the solutions is to throw Hungary out of Schengen Area. – Unfortunately, we all have good reasons to suspect Viktor Orban, the Prime Minister of Hungary and a dear friend of PiS, of supporting Russia in the war with Ukraine – he said.
He also said that he did not yet know the details of Orban's decision, but “at first glance (…) it seems that the provisions of European law and (related – ed.) related to the security of the Schengen countries have been violated.” He added that Hungary is not the only country that grants visas to Belarusians and Russians.
– It is worth analyzing in a very precise way all the legal aspects and possible consequences of his decision. But exclusion from the Schengen area is actually a prelude to exclusion from the European Union. I would be careful here, however – he continued.
Donald TuskPAP/Paweł Supernak
– I always say in such situations: listen, Orban was, Orban is and maybe he will be for a while, but it will pass. Like all politicians, I do not dedicate this wisdom of life only to Viktor Orban – stated the head of the Polish government. – I do not rule out that Hungary will return to the path of full democracy, transparency and this Western system of values sooner than we expect. And I would prefer that we do not push the Hungarians away – he added.
– I think about Orban, but Hungarians are still our friends. People sometimes vote differently in different countries. Sometimes not the way we would like, in Poland too. I was not thrilled with the election results for a good few years, but to anyone in Europe who suggested that maybe Poland should not be member of the European Union – I apologize for the wording – I immediately slapped him on the hand as soon as possible – he said.
– Patience in these matters is also advisable. I would prefer Hungary to be wholeheartedly in the European Union. And it can better survive this critical moment with Viktor Orban in the leading role – assessed Tusk.
Hungary's decision
The Hungarian government has expanded the list of non-EU countries whose citizens can come to Hungary with their families as guest workers without undergoing security checks. The new rules, introducing a so-called national card for temporary workers, have been in force since the beginning of the year, but so far they have mainly concerned Latin American and Asian countries. In July, Russia and BelarusThe Hungarian government justified this by the need for labour to build new units of the nuclear power plant in Paks, which is being built by the Russian company Rosatom.
As the Financial Times reported on Tuesday, the head of the European People's Party, Manfred Weber, fears that this will allow Russian spies to enter the Schengen area. Weber called on the EU to address the issue at its October summit.
Main image source: FILIP SINGER/PAP/EPA