The European People's Party (EPP) has expressed concern over Hungary's decision to ease visa restrictions for citizens of Russia and Belarus, fearing it could encourage espionage in the European Union, according to a letter seen by Reuters.
Manfred Weber, president of the center-right EPP, wrote to European Council chief Charles Michel that Hungary's new rules could "create large loopholes for espionage activities ... which would pose a serious risk to national security."
"The policy could also make it easier for Russians to move around the Schengen area, bypassing restrictions imposed by EU law," Weber said in the letter.
The letter was originally published by the British "Financial Times".
Reuters said the letter highlighted tensions between EU institutions and Hungary, which currently holds the bloc's presidency, as it seeks to maintain close ties with Russia despite the war in Ukraine.
A spokesperson for the European Commission said that they will be in contact with Hungary regarding the new rules and that Budapest is obliged to check whether they are in line with Schengen regulations.
Hungary this month expanded its "national card" immigration program to include Russians and Belarusians, among others. The holder of such a card is allowed to work in Hungary without a security clearance and can bring his family into the country. It is valid for two years, but can be extended.
Officially, the cardholder is not a guest worker, so he does not appear in the statistics or in the various national quotas.
Hungary's visa decision comes a year after the US imposed sanctions on three senior officials of the International Investment Bank (IIB), a Russian-controlled bank in Budapest - two Russians and one Hungarian.
Bank employees enjoyed full diplomatic immunity and could travel freely within the EU. Under pressure from the US, Hungary withdrew from the IIB, but expressed frustration at having to do so.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who took over the six-month presidency of the EU on July 1, angered bloc partners this month by visiting Moscow, where he discussed a potential peace deal for Ukraine with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Orban sharply criticized Western military aid to Ukraine.
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