The Netherlands’ social liberal political party, Democrats 66 (D66) and the Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA) have called on the Prime Minister, Dick Schoof, to advocate for the temporary suspension of Hungary from the Schengen Zone.
Two political group calls’ -ahead of the European Council meeting in which the Netherlands’ PM will participate- came amid concerns that Hungary is allowing a large number of Russians to enter the country without checks, Schengen.News reports.
By suspending Hungary, passport controls at the country’s borders would be implemented, and there would be no free movement for the nation’s citizens.
D66 parliamentarian Jan Paternotte told NOS these measures are necessary as long as Budapest does not improve checks on Moscow and Russian immigrant workers are permitted to enter without being checked.
The member of the House of Representatives said that in recent years, 400 Russians have been deported from Europe over suspicion of espionage, and a NATO base near Limburg narrowly averted a sabotage operation with a drone.
Paternotte said the threat is great, realising the proposal is a big step; however, he added that the time to talk to Hungary is over.
“Threat From Russia is Major”
Earlier this year, Dutch Military Intelligence and Security Service director Peter Reesink warned that the threat from Russia is major.
He argued the country is an important target for Russia, partly because it is an important military hub, according to Dutch News.
In the Netherlands, there are also located the International Criminal Court and the Organisation for Prevention of Chemical Weapons. In both of these institutions, possible war crimes by Russia in Ukraine are being investigated.
Hungary: Facilitating Entry for Certain Nationals Does Not Violate EU Law
Calls for suspension and even exclusion of Hungary from the Schengen Area came following Budapest’s inclusion of Russia and Belarus in its National Card Program.
Members of the Hungarian National Card Program are eligible to acquire residency under facilitated entry rules and without being required to have special or high qualifications.
Previously, in a letter addressed to the European Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson, the leaders of the Nordic and Baltic states expressed their concerns that the inclusion of Russia and Belarus in this program may constitute a serious security risk.
In August this year, The Chairperson of the Finnish Social Democratic Parliamentary Group, Tytti Tuppurainen, called for the exclusion of Hungary from the Schengen Zone.
In addition, a total of 67 members of the European Parliament urged for stricter measures to be imposed in a letter addressed to the European Union Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen.
Voicing concerns in this regard, Hungary’s EU Affairs Minister, János Bóka, said the right of bloc’s countries to issue residence and work permits that offer advantages to some country’s nationals is not against EU law, referring to the National Card Program.
In August, the Head of the Prime Minister’s Office, Gergely Gulyás, also argued that the expansion of the program does not put the EU’s security at risk.
Gulyás said that 6,000 Russian nationals are working in Hungary and 300,000 in Germany, dismissing concerns related to his country’s National Card Program.
Source: https://schengen.news/2-dutch-political-parties-call-to-suspend-hungary-from-schengen-zone/
