Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban plans to defend his country's interests during his visit to Brussels against the backdrop of Budapest facing EU sanctions for its refusal to adhere to EU standards in migration policy.
MOSCOW (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 11th September, 2018) Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban plans to defend his country's interests during his visit to Brussels against the backdrop of Budapest facing EU sanctions for its refusal to adhere to EU standards in migration policy.
The European Parliament will vote on Wednesday on a resolution urging the European Commission to impose sanctions on Hungary over the country's non-compliance with democratic principles and EU policies. The resolution may lead to the commission launching a procedure that could result in Hungary being deprived of its voting rights in the Council of the European Union.
"Pro-migration representatives have a majority in the European Parliament. They are now preparing for revenge against Hungary, because the Hungarians have decided they will not become an immigrant country. The truth is that the verdict has already been written. I am now going to Brussels to defend Hungary and the Hungarian people against unfair accusations and lies," Orban said in a video address on Facebook.
Hungary has long been critical of the European Union's open-door policy, initially introduced at the onset of the continent's migration crisis, and opposed the mandatory migrant relocation quotas. Budapest's stance prompted the European Commission to launch its first infringement procedure against Hungary over the latter's asylum legislation, which set up border fences and enhanced border control with neighboring Serbia, among other measures, in December 2015.
In March 2017, Hungary's parliament adopted a law stating that all asylum seekers entering Hungary, as well as those already in the country, would be required to wait for the verdict on their asylum case in mandatory transit zones, or so-called container camps, on the border.
Over recent months, Hungary has come under more criticism due to its new so-called Stop Soros law, which banned non-governmental organizations from providing aid to undocumented migrants. The controversial legislation takes aim at EU migration regulations and Hungarian-born US billionaire George Soros, who proposed a plan to address Europe's refugee crisis, part of which involves member states keeping their borders open for documented migrants.
On July 19, the European Commission referred Budapest to the Court of Justice of the European Union over its Stop Soros law, which the commission argued did not comply with EU legislation.
