EU Country Warns It Might Transport Migrants to Brussels
Hungary has issued a warning that it may transport migrants to Brussels in response to a penalty levied against it for failing to comply with EU asylum regulations. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
Hungary may consider funding the travel of asylum seekers to Western Europe instead of allowing them to remain in the country, a senior government official indicated on Thursday.
Gergely Gulyas, who oversees the office of Prime Minister Viktor Orban, presented the initiative as a potential reaction to penalties from the European Court of Justice (ECJ). Last month, the court imposed a €200 million ($216 million) fine on Budapest for not adhering to EU refugee regulations and added an additional charge of €1 million per day for ongoing non-compliance.
“We will offer all migrants at the Hungarian border the opportunity to be transported to Brussels voluntarily and free of charge,” Gulyas stated to the media. “If Brussels wants migrants, it can have them.”
The official criticized the EU court's decision as a “disgrace” and suggested that it would be reasonable to direct migrants “in the direction of Austria and Germany” where they could discuss their futures with the European Commission.
Prime Minister Orban has previously condemned the court ruling as “outrageous and unacceptable,” emphasizing that Budapest would find a response.
For years, the Hungarian government has upheld a firm stance against illegal migration, viewing it as culturally incompatible with Hungarian values. This approach contrasts with policies adopted by some Western European EU member states.
During the 2015 migrant crisis, Hungary built fences along its borders with Serbia and Croatia to limit the influx of migrants, a move mirrored by some Eastern European nations, alongside other restrictive measures. The ECJ fine stems from a 2020 ruling that required Budapest to revise its policies.
If enacted, Hungary's proposed plan could bear a resemblance to how certain US states handle immigrants crossing from Mexico. Since 2022, several southern governors, including Texas's Greg Abbott, have arranged for immigrants to be bused to northern cities like New York, arguing that states advocating for leniency towards illegal migrants should share the burden of accommodating them.
Camille Lefevre contributed to this report for TROIB News
Gergely Gulyas, who oversees the office of Prime Minister Viktor Orban, presented the initiative as a potential reaction to penalties from the European Court of Justice (ECJ). Last month, the court imposed a €200 million ($216 million) fine on Budapest for not adhering to EU refugee regulations and added an additional charge of €1 million per day for ongoing non-compliance.
“We will offer all migrants at the Hungarian border the opportunity to be transported to Brussels voluntarily and free of charge,” Gulyas stated to the media. “If Brussels wants migrants, it can have them.”
The official criticized the EU court's decision as a “disgrace” and suggested that it would be reasonable to direct migrants “in the direction of Austria and Germany” where they could discuss their futures with the European Commission.
Prime Minister Orban has previously condemned the court ruling as “outrageous and unacceptable,” emphasizing that Budapest would find a response.
For years, the Hungarian government has upheld a firm stance against illegal migration, viewing it as culturally incompatible with Hungarian values. This approach contrasts with policies adopted by some Western European EU member states.
During the 2015 migrant crisis, Hungary built fences along its borders with Serbia and Croatia to limit the influx of migrants, a move mirrored by some Eastern European nations, alongside other restrictive measures. The ECJ fine stems from a 2020 ruling that required Budapest to revise its policies.
If enacted, Hungary's proposed plan could bear a resemblance to how certain US states handle immigrants crossing from Mexico. Since 2022, several southern governors, including Texas's Greg Abbott, have arranged for immigrants to be bused to northern cities like New York, arguing that states advocating for leniency towards illegal migrants should share the burden of accommodating them.
Camille Lefevre contributed to this report for TROIB News
