Extending Hungary’s ‘national card’ scheme to Russian and Belarusian ‘guest workers’

Question for written answer E-001438/2024
to the Commission
Rule 144
Jeroen Lenaers (PPE)

From this month onwards, the Government of Hungary has extended the 'national card' scheme so as to admit Russian and Belarusian 'guest workers' into the country, too, without the customary security checks. Moreover, no limit on the number of 'guest workers' has been set, no employment sector has been specified and no certificates need to be submitted that demonstrate that the work is actually needed. Lastly, upon renewal, which is possible on an unlimited basis, no cultural knowledge test needs to be taken and 'guest workers' are also allowed to bring their families to Hungary.

• 1.Does the Commission agree that this extension poses a major security risk to the entire Schengen Area, inter alia because of the likelihood that Russians and Belarusians with a high risk profile will also move freely through the Schengen Area, without proper checks, so as to engage in espionage activities?
• 2.What rules are currently in place to protect the Schengen Area against such high-risk initiatives by Member States?
• 3.What measures does the Commission propose to take to directly safeguard the integrity of the Schengen Area, limit the security risk that has already arisen and prevent Member States from coming forward with similar initiatives in the future?

Submitted: 26.7.2024