Proposal to exclude Hungary temporarily from the Schengen area due to "Express-visas for russians".

The European Parliament was proposed to suspend Hungary's participation in the Schengen area after Budapest decided to relax visa requirements for citizens of Russia and Belarus. A letter with such a demand was signed by a group of 70 MEPs, writes Politico.

"We call on the European Commission to take urgent measures to investigate Hungary's decision, as it could represent a loophole and potentially jeopardize the overall functioning of the Schengen area and its role as a safe space for citizens," the document says.

If the Hungarian government refuses to change its visa policy, then the European Commission and all EU countries "should review the Hungarian presence in the Schengen area by introducing new measures to protect European citizens, including new controls at Hungarian borders."

In early July, Hungary included Russians and Belarusians in the "national card" program, which allows you to get a job in any industry, move your family and obtain a permanent residence permit in the country in three years. As Deutsche Welle noted, this happened after a meeting between Orban and Putin in Moscow.

Previously, other deputies like the Finnish MEPs from across the political spectrum interviewed by Yle called for stricter sanctions against Hungary, which is seen as a loose cannon. Maria Ohisalo (Green) and Sebastian Tynkkynen (Finns) said that Hungary's right to vote in the European Council should be suspended.

"Hungary has shown that it is not committed to [our] common values ​​and rules of the game. This should be a good enough incentive for the member states to introduce Article 7 of the EU Treaty, which enables the removal of Hungary's right to vote in the Council."

According to Article 7, EU membership and participation in its activities depend on respect for fundamental values ​​and that serious and persistent violations of them may be subject to sanctions.

It says that membership rights, such as voting rights in the European Council, may be suspended "if a country seriously and persistently breaches the principles on which the EU is founded…[including] respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for fundamental rights.

"Hungary's current leadership is clearly not committed to the common values ​​and principles of the Union. Orbán's solo moves endanger the credibility of the Union's foreign policy and the results of the Union's activities in the world," said MEP and ex-finance minister Eero Heinäluoma (SDP) said and called to react forcefully to Hungary's undemocratic development and its self-serving actions within the EU.

"These reactions should include denying Hungary the right to vote, halting its EU grants and reviewing Hungary's status as part of the Schengen zone."

@EU_Report
@freerussia_report