The EPP president called Hungary's decision to simplify its entry conditions for Russians "questionable" and warned of heightened risk of spies entering the bloc in a letter sent to European Council President Charles Michel.
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00:00Hungary has simplified its entry conditions for Russian visitors who no longer need to
00:06face security checks to enter the country.
00:09Earlier in July, Hungary quietly introduced a fast-track visa system for eight countries,
00:14which includes Russia and Belarus.
00:17The new policy simplifies visa restrictions for the visitors and enables them to move
00:22freely to other EU countries.
00:24The European People's Party has voiced their concern for these restrictions as they believe
00:29it could pose a risk to national security and create loopholes for espionage activities.
00:35The President of the party sent a letter to the European Council President calling for
00:39EU leaders to take appropriate countermeasures.
00:42The Commission confirms they will clarify with Hungarian authorities that the scheme
00:46corresponds with EU regulations.
00:48For our position throughout our policies, Russia is a security threat to the EU and
00:54hence all instruments at union level, at member state level need to ensure the safety
01:00of the union and also to take into account the security of the Schengen.
01:05Earlier this month, Viktor Orban met with Russia's President Vladimir Putin.
01:09The Hungarian Prime Minister received backlash from EU leaders as his meeting came shortly
01:13after his visit to Kiev to discuss peace talks with the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
01:22Prime Minister Viktor Orban is known as Putin's closest ally in the European Union and has
01:27routinely blocked, delayed or watered down EU efforts to extend assistance to Ukraine.