The Budapest Government has been criticized for years by many EU States for its alleged closeness to the Kremlin.
A senior Hungarian minister has hit back at critics of Budapest’s recent decision to relax entry rules for Russian and Belarusian citizensaccusing critics in northern and western Europe of mounting a “fake news campaign” against his government.
At a press conference held on Tuesday in Bucharest (Romania), the Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Peter Szijiarto, addressed tension between Hungary and the rest of the EU because of his country’s perceived closeness to Russia.
“Here there is a great hypocrisybecause whenever Hungary is against any position of the majority of European countries, then we are often called ‘Russian spies’ or ‘Trojan horse’ or ‘Kremlin propagandists,'” he said.
“When a Western European country vetoes a common European decision, it’s a normal way of operating, you know? So this it’s very hypocritical“he added.
Szijiarto also referred directly to the ‘cards’ that can be granted to Russians and Belarusians, stating that the Baltic and Nordic countries that oppose the plan are carrying out a “very clear fake news campaign” against Hungary.
Hungary “has not softened any procedures”
“They are lying. The fact is that Hungary has not softened at all any type of procedure for third-country nationals to enter the territory of Hungary,” said Szijiarto.
The immigration regime of the so-called ‘National Card’ allows foreign workers to remain in the country at least two years and can pave the way to permanent residency.
Hungary had expanded the regime (originally available for Serbian and Ukrainian nationals) to EU candidate countries Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Moldova.
However, when Belarus and Russia joined the regime, the Nordic and Baltic countries expressed their concern because of the potential security risk it could pose for the rest of the EU.
Szijarto made his comments as Romania, Hungary, Georgia and Azerbaijan They launched a joint venture to install a power line under the Black Sea intended for bring more renewable energy to the EU from the eastern Caucasus.
The project was approved by the leaders of the four countries in 2022 and gained momentum after the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the resulting rise in energy prices. Energy ministers say the project will contribute to reinforce energy security and to lower prices for consumers.
