Several Latvian MEPs concerned about Hungary's decision to allow Russian and Belarusian citizens to enter EU without security checks

RIGA - Several Latvian MEPs interviewed by LETA are concerned about Hungary's decision to allow Russian and Belarusian citizens to enter the European Union (EU) without security checks.

Sandra Kalniete (New Unity), a member of the European Parliament (MEP), told LETA that six months ago the EU terminated the agreement with Russia on all visa facilitation regimes that were still in place. She stressed that now every Russian citizen entering the Schengen area has to go through a thorough security check.

The MEP explained that this was being done because the acts of sabotage and various other abuses over the past year were a direct threat to European citizens. ''We are talking about the burning of shops, murders and various other 'operations' that are being carried out systematically, on an ever-increasing scale, on European territory,'' she said.

In her opinion, by allowing 'alleged' guest workers from Belarus and Russia to enter Hungarian territory on a national visa, Hungary is in fact endangering the entire EU, because Hungary borders seven countries, six of which are members of the bloc and the seventh is Ukraine.

Through these six countries, saboteurs, spies, propagandists and money couriers can pass virtually anywhere in the EU without any controls, Kalniete explained. She stressed that we are in a situation of war: there is a war on Ukrainian territory, while Russia has made it clear that its real adversary is NATO and the EU.

The MEP pointed out that Latvia, together with other EU Member States, has asked the European Commission (EC) to explain the situation and how Hungary can be persuaded to reverse its decision. According to Kalniete, on Friday the EC Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson, sent a letter to Hungary asking for an explanation.

"It is dangerous that several weeks have been given for an explanation. The Commissioner expects a reply on August 19, but after that it will be time to decide what to do next. The letter warns Hungary that if it does not reverse this decision, the EU will act in accordance with Schengen rules," the politician said.

She also acknowledged that there is limited scope for immediate impact. Kalniete said that loud statements could be made about Hungary's exclusion from the Schengen area, but legally this was not so easy to do. In the MEP's view, there are two possible solutions. One is the reintroduction of border controls at the Hungarian border. In practice, this means that border checkpoints have to be restored, but this requires funding, which could be a heavy burden for the six EU Member States. The other solution could be not to recognize national visas issued by Hungary in the Schengen area, but in order to do this, we need to control who enters the Schengen area.

Kalniete mentioned that together with her Lithuanian and Czech colleagues, she had written a letter to EC President Ursula von der Leyen, pointing out that the Hungarian government should be informed of the possible consequences of its decision for Hungarian citizens, who could be restricted from entering the Schengen area freely if border controls are put in place.

MEP Rihards Kols (National Alliance) noted that immigration policy is the competence of each Member State, but is shared with the EU. He stressed that Hungary is part of the Schengen area and has to comply with the relevant rules, but relaxing the requirements at a time when there has been a strict no-visa policy against Russian citizens for more than two years because of the Russian aggression in Ukraine could pose risks, including to the national security of the bloc's member states.

In his view, this is a gateway through which Russia can send its secret service operatives to Europe under various 'fictitious guises'. Kols pointed out that one does not have to look far to find such cases, as Russian security agents are spreading across the EU, killing both dissidents and people unwanted by the regime. Warnings of potential sabotage by Russian special services should also be heeded.

"Hungary's actions rise to the level of sabotage against EU policies in general. At the request of several governments in the bloc, the EC has demanded explanations from Hungary, as the decision on 'facilitation visas' was practically taken after Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban visited Moscow and met with [Vladimir] Putin," the MEP said.

One solution, he said, could be for the countries bordering Hungary in Europe to reintroduce border controls, but it is questionable whether this will be done. At the level of the Council of Europe, it would have to be assessed whether such a decision would be in line with the framework for Schengen membership at all.

MEP Reinis Poznaks (United List) stressed that Hungary's decision poses major risks. In his view, this is Russia's strategy and tactic - to send various "military-oriented" people to other countries under the guise of civilians and tourists. The politician pointed out that in Ukraine in 2014 this was called a "tourist landing". According to Poznaks, the risks are high, especially for the Baltic States and Finland.

The MEP pointed out that the Council of Europe and the EC could have the most influence to reverse Hungary's decision, in the worst case scenario border controls with Hungary would have to be re-established. Poznaks pointed out that, in general, it was necessary to think what to do with Hungary in both the EU and NATO context, as its behavior is "quite frightening".

MEP Martins Stakis (Progressives) said that he had signed an initiative calling on the EP to actively adopt a position on this issue. There is no doubt, he said, that Hungary's decision poses a security threat to Europe, as undesirable people can enter the EU on work visas and carry out certain acts against Europe. The politician pointed out that he shared the view of the Polish Deputy Foreign Minister, Władyslaw Teofil Bartoszewski, that Hungary should clarify for itself which side it wants to be on, the EU and NATO, or some other side.

"The fact that we should be constantly bouncing on the horn of one dissident country is, in my opinion, absolutely unacceptable. In this case, Hungary should be thinking about security and it should provide all the security guarantees for the other EU Member States. This seems to me absolutely logical," said Stakis.