Hungary Assures EU: National Card Poses No Threat to Schengen

Charlie Immigration updates 1 September 2024 | Updated On September 4, 2024 | 0

The Hungarian government has assured the EU that its National Card, which eases entry for Russian and Belarusian nationals, poses no threat to the security of the Schengen Area.

In a letter to EU Commissioner Ylva Johansson, Hungary's Interior Minister Sandor Pinter emphasised that the National Card follows the same rigorous security checks as other residence permits, adhering to EU standards.

In a letter sent by minister of interior @YlvaJohansson was informed: the same migration and security screenings as for other residence permits are carried out when the application for the National Card of Russian and Belarus citizens is evaluated. 1/3 pic.twitter.com/IFDk8onX7y
— Bóka János (@JanosBoka_HU) August 21, 2024

The EU had raised concerns after Hungary expanded its National Card scheme in July to include Russia and Belarus, in addition to six other countries. This prompted objections from eight EU member states, fearing the scheme could allow Russian spies easier access to the EU.

Despite these concerns, Hungary maintains that its immigration authority carefully monitors EU sanction lists, ensuring that those flagged cannot obtain the National Card. However, Hungary did not clarify why it extended the scheme to Russia and Belarus just days after Prime Minister Viktor Orban's visit to Moscow.

While Hungary downplayed the scheme’s impact, it highlighted that less than one percent of Russian and Belarusian nationals in the EU reside in Hungary.

Currently, there are 7,883 Russian citizens in Hungary, a 20 percent increase since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Despite the controversy, Hungary has quickly processed a handful of National Card applications from Russian and Belarusian nationals, with several more pending.

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