The European Union’s highest court has imposed a €200 million fine on Hungary for its failure to comply with the union’s asylum policies. This penalty, issued by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) on Thursday, underscores the continuing conflict between EU regulations and Hungary’s stringent immigration stance.
Additionally, Hungary will incur a daily penalty of €1 million until it aligns its asylum policies with EU requirements.
Key Points from the Court’s Ruling:
- Violation of Asylum Policy: The ECJ found that Hungary had breached a 2020 judgment which stated that the country violated EU laws by requiring asylum seekers to apply for entry permits from third countries such as Serbia or Ukraine. The court deemed this practice as deliberately circumventing EU policy.
- Unlawful Detention and Rights Violation: The ruling highlighted Hungary’s unlawful detention of individuals seeking international protection and failure to respect their right to remain in the country pending the outcome of their asylum applications.
- Impact on EU Solidarity: The court argued that Hungary’s actions unfairly transferred the responsibility for asylum seekers to other EU nations, thereby undermining the principle of solidarity among member states.
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán criticized the fine, describing it as “outrageous and unacceptable.” In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Orbán defended Hungary’s stringent border policies, stating, “It seems that illegal migrants are more important to the Brussels bureaucrats than their own European citizens.”
Since the 2015 migrant crisis, when Hungary saw over a million asylum seekers, mainly fleeing conflict in Syria, the country has maintained a hardline approach. Measures included erecting border fences and implementing policies to deter irregular crossings.
EU regulations stipulate that individuals fleeing persecution must be allowed to seek international protection without the risk of being returned to their countries where they may face death or torture. The ECJ emphasized that Hungary’s policy of redirecting asylum seekers to apply for entry permits from outside the EU was a significant deviation from these laws.
The EU’s updated asylum framework aims to expedite the process and mandates that member states either accommodate asylum seekers from frontline nations such as Italy, Greece, and Spain or contribute additional funding and resources. This policy is part of a broader effort to balance the responsibilities of asylum seekers across the union.
Despite the ECJ’s ruling and the new asylum framework, Hungary has pledged not to accept irregular migrants, irrespective of any EU agreements.
Hungary is set to assume the rotating presidency of the EU on July 1. This role will place Hungary at the forefront of EU policy discussions, potentially influencing the union’s legislative agenda during a time of heightened tension over asylum policies.
The ECJ’s fine against Hungary highlights the ongoing friction between national sovereignty and EU-wide policies on migration. As Hungary prepares to lead the EU presidency, its approach to asylum seekers and compliance with EU regulations will be closely scrutinized. The decision also raises questions about how the EU will enforce its asylum policies and maintain solidarity among its members amid divergent national strategies.
