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In a bold move, Hungary has declared its intention to transport migrants to Brussels at its own expense if the European Union fails to ease sanctions imposed over its stringent migration policies. Cabinet minister Gergely Gulyás expressed strong criticism of the European Commission, accusing it of coercing Hungary into accepting migrants while the country faces hefty fines for its current practices. As tensions rise, Hungary's government is exploring legal avenues to recover costs associated with border protection, raising significant questions about the future of its immigration strategy amid EU scrutiny.
Hungary will send fresh migrants to Brussels at its own expense if the European Union does not ease its sanctions on the country related to its restrictive migration policy, cabinet minister Gergely Gulyás warned on Thursday.
At a press conference, Gulyás accused the European Commission of wanting to force Hungary to let migrants in at any cost. Hungary has now been heavily fined for the same practice as the EU rule on transit zones.
Unlike other countries, Hungary does not receive funds from Brussels for border protection. That is why the government has asked the justice minister to look into ways of recovering part of the costs through legal action against Brussels.
“If Brussels wants to continue to impose a regulation on Hungary that makes it impossible to detain migrants at the external border, we will transport them to Brussels voluntarily and free of charge after following the European procedures,” said Gergely Gulyás, who called the procedure intolerable and unfair.
He added that Hungary does not want to pay daily fees indefinitely as a punishment, and is happy to take the migrants to Brussels to negotiate their further care from there.
In its June 2024 verdict, the European Court of Justice ruled that Hungary must pay a €200 million fine for not implementing changes to its policy of handling migrants and asylum seekers at its border.
“The decision is outrageous and unacceptable,” Prime Minister Viktor Orban said at the time in a Facebook post.
The Hungarian government, which has previously refused to carry out the court ruling, will also be required to pay a daily fine of €1 million until it fully implements the measures.