2024-08-01 01:49:13
“Hungary’s unilateral decisions, including this one, to facilitate the issuance of visas to citizens of Russia and Belarus, are against the values of the European Union, principles of solidarity and agreements,” Nausėda told the BNS news agency.
“The fact that Hungary allows the citizens of Russia, the aggressor country, and Belarus, the country involved in the aggression, to travel freely in Europe increases the security risks in Europe,” the Lithuanian president added.
Nauseda also questioned the Paks nuclear power plant (NPP) project in Hungary. The NPP will be built by representatives of the Russian state nuclear power company “Rosatom” and representatives of Belarus, who, while working in Belarus, “failed to ensure the safety of the Astraviec nuclear power plant and solve construction problems”, and have occupied the Zaporizhia NPP in Ukraine, the Lithuanian president said.
This month, Hungary announced a new visa plan that would allow citizens of eight countries, including Russia and Belarus, to enter Hungary without security checks or other restrictions.
Budapest claims that many of the arrivals will be related to the construction of the new NPP.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania announced on Tuesday that Lithuania has sent a letter to the European Commission expressing its indignation at Hungary’s decision, stating that it “very seriously threatens the security of the Schengen area and many European countries, therefore it must be addressed at the level of the European Union (EU).
According to EU norms, national governments have the right to decide on legal migration and work permits. Third-country nationals with EU visas can generally move freely within the Schengen area, which covers 29 countries, including Norway and Switzerland.
2024-08-01 01:49:13