Hungary has escalated its ongoing dispute with the European Union over asylum policies, with a top government official threatening to send migrants directly to Brussels. Gergely Gulyás, who serves as the minister for the prime minister’s office, issued this warning during a press conference, stating that if the EU continues to pressure Hungary to accept more asylum seekers, the country will respond by providing migrants with one-way tickets to Brussels. This strong statement comes after the European Court of Justice (ECJ) imposed a hefty €200 million fine on Hungary for repeatedly violating EU asylum regulations.
The tension between Hungary and the EU has been simmering for years, with Hungary resisting EU demands to open its borders to more migrants. Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has consistently criticized the EU’s approach to migration, arguing that it prioritizes illegal migrants over European citizens. The recent fine from the ECJ, which also includes a daily penalty of €1 million for non-compliance, has further strained relations. Orbán described the court’s decision as “outrageous and unacceptable,” and Gulyás’s remarks suggest that the Hungarian government remains defiant.
Gulyás also accused the EU of hypocrisy, pointing out that the bloc has adopted the use of “transit zones” to detain asylum seekers, a practice for which Hungary has been heavily criticized and penalized. He emphasized that Hungary is responsible for protecting the external Schengen borders, a duty that benefits all of Europe, yet Budapest receives no additional support from the EU to cover the costs of securing these borders. Hungary shares borders with Serbia and Ukraine, both non-EU countries, and the government is exploring legal avenues to compel the European Commission to contribute to border protection expenses.
The conflict over asylum policy dates back to December 2020, when the ECJ first ruled against Hungary for severely limiting access to asylum procedures, making it nearly impossible for migrants to apply for international protection. The court condemned Hungary for unlawfully detaining asylum seekers in “transit zones” and violating their right to appeal. Hungary’s refusal to comply with the 2020 ruling led to the recent massive fine, as the ECJ accused Hungary of deliberately evading EU asylum laws and disregarding the principle of sincere cooperation.