EPP's Weber slams Hungary's decision to ease visa restrictions for Russians

euronews (in English)

The EPP president called Hungary's decision to simplify its entry conditions for Russians "questionable" and warned of heightened risk of spies entering the bloc in a letter sent to European Council President Charles Michel.

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00:00Hungary has simplified its entry conditions for Russian visitors who no longer need to

00:06face security checks to enter the country.

00:09Earlier in July, Hungary quietly introduced a fast-track visa system for eight countries,

00:14which includes Russia and Belarus.

00:17The new policy simplifies visa restrictions for the visitors and enables them to move

00:22freely to other EU countries.

00:24The European People's Party has voiced their concern for these restrictions as they believe

00:29it could pose a risk to national security and create loopholes for espionage activities.

00:35The President of the party sent a letter to the European Council President calling for

00:39EU leaders to take appropriate countermeasures.

00:42The Commission confirms they will clarify with Hungarian authorities that the scheme

00:46corresponds with EU regulations.

00:48For our position throughout our policies, Russia is a security threat to the EU and

00:54hence all instruments at union level, at member state level need to ensure the safety

01:00of the union and also to take into account the security of the Schengen.

01:05Earlier this month, Viktor Orban met with Russia's President Vladimir Putin.

01:09The Hungarian Prime Minister received backlash from EU leaders as his meeting came shortly

01:13after his visit to Kiev to discuss peace talks with the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

01:22Prime Minister Viktor Orban is known as Putin's closest ally in the European Union and has

01:27routinely blocked, delayed or watered down EU efforts to extend assistance to Ukraine.

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