Earlier this month, Hungary announced a new facilitated visa scheme under which citizens of eight countries, including Russia and Belarus, can enter Hungary without security checks or other restrictions. Budapest claims that many of those entering under this scheme will be building a nuclear power plant.

“We are unpleasantly surprised by media reports that Hungary has included Russian and Belarusian citizens in its national immigration programme, which will allow them to enter and move freely within the Schengen area,” Lithuania’s Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis said in a written statement.

“In Lithuania’s view, Hungary’s decision poses very serious threats to the security of the Schengen area and many European countries, and must therefore be responded to at the EU level,” the Lithuanian foreign minister said.

The minister believes that Hungary’s decision requires a separate assessment at a time when European countries are facing an increasing number of acts of sabotage, which this reinforces the urgency of finding an adequate response to such a stance by one member state.

  • Quittenbrot
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    4 months ago

    I don‘t see the problem here then.

    They can decide whatever they want. They just have to live with the consequences. We don’t want easy entry for Russian and Belarusian citizens (which is, in turn, our right). So if you want to allow these citizens free access to your country, fine. But don’t expect us to then also grant you free access to ours.

    • bungalowtill@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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      4 months ago

      In 2022, the EU imposed sanctions on Russia and Belarus after Russia launched a full-scale war in Ukraine. While they do not ban Russians from travelling to the EU…

      Another quote from the article.

      Your idea is to exclude Hungary from Schengen?