Monday

25th Sep 2023

EU to scrutinise Hungary 'ignoring asylum ruling'

Hungary will be receiving a formal European Commission notice for ignoring a recent EU court ruling on asylum.

The move follows reports by a Budapest-based NGO, the Hungarian Helsinki Committee, that Hungary is continuing to force would-be asylum seekers back into Serbia.

Read and decide

Join EUobserver today

Become an expert on Europe

Get instant access to all articles — and 20 years of archives. 14-day free trial.

... or subscribe as a group

In an email on Tuesday (12 January), a spokesperson for the European Commission said they will now demand the Orban government in Budapest explains itself.

"The commission will promptly send a letter to Hungary to enquire about the actions taken or planned for it to follow-up on the court's ruling," said the spokesperson, noting that effective access to asylum must be ensured.

Over 2,300 people have been pushed back into Serbia since the European Court of Justice ruling on 17 December, according to the Hungarian Helsinki Committee NGO.

That court verdict, among other things, said the push backs were illegal under EU law.

But Hungary has since countered, arguing that the spread of the coronavirus requires it to step up stricter border protection measures.

"Hungary has reintroduced the special legal order, which among others entails strict border protection measures," a Hungarian government spokesperson, said in an email.

She also noted that the zones along the border with Serbia were closed in order to comply with the December ruling by the Luxembourg-based court.

"The current pandemic highlighted even further the importance of being able to control who enters the EU's territory," she said.

Frontex to review own role in Hungary

But the case also implicates the EU's border and coast guard agency, Frontex.

Frontex has been operating in Hungary for the past few years.

Fabrice Leggeri, its executive directive, has in the past said the Warsaw-based agency would withdraw, should Hungary violate fundamental rights.

Those statements come amid a backdrop of mounting scrutiny of Frontex.

The EU's anti-fraud office, Olaf, recently launched an inquiry into Frontex as numerous MEPs demand Leggeri's resignation.

The Hungarian Helsinki Committee has asked Leggeri reconsider Frontex's presence in Hungary given that the European Court of Justice judgment is being violated.

"Frontex is currently assessing the impact of the CJEU [ECJ] ruling on our operational activities," said a Frontex spokesperson, when asked if the agency would withdraw.

For its part, the commission said it expects Frontex to act swiftly.

The Brussels-executive has initiated its own inquiry into Frontex, in the wake of media reports implicating the agency in push backs.

"This process is ongoing, with the commission's full involvement," said the commission spokesperson.

The commission currently has three pending infringement procedures on issues dealing with asylum against Hungary.

Hungary 'ignoring EU court ruling on asylum'

The European Court of Justice last month ruled Hungary had breached EU asylum laws. Budapest was told to stop pushing asylum seekers back into Serbia - yet nearly 2,500 people have been forced across the border since that judgement.

Exclusive

EU anti-fraud office launches probe into Frontex

EUobserver was tipped off about the investigation by an anonymous source, who said Olaf had raided the offices of Frontex director Fabrice Leggeri and his chef de cabinet in early December given alleged misconduct.

Top court finds Hungary and Poland broke EU rules

EU tribunal said Hungary's legislation made it "virtually impossible" to make an asylum application. Restricting access to international protection procedure is a violation of EU rules.

Hungary violated EU asylum law, rules top court

Budapest violated EU asylum laws by forcing people to first go to Hungarian embassies in Serbia and Ukraine before initiating a claim for international protection, ruled the European Court of Justice.

Latest News

  1. Europe's energy strategy: A tale of competing priorities
  2. Why Greek state workers are protesting new labour law
  3. Gloves off, as Polish ruling party fights for power
  4. Here's the headline of every op-ed imploring something to stop
  5. Report: Tax richest 0.5%, raise €213bn for EU coffers
  6. EU aid for Africa risks violating spending rules, Oxfam says
  7. Activists push €40bn fossil subsidies into Dutch-election spotlight
  8. Europe must Trump-proof its Ukraine arms supplies

Stakeholders' Highlights

  1. International Medical Devices Regulators Forum (IMDRF)Join regulators, industry & healthcare experts at the 24th IMDRF session, September 25-26, Berlin. Register by 20 Sept to join in person or online.
  2. UNOPSUNOPS begins works under EU-funded project to repair schools in Ukraine
  3. Georgia Ministry of Foreign AffairsGeorgia effectively prevents sanctions evasion against Russia – confirm EU, UK, USA
  4. International Medical Devices Regulators Forum (IMDRF)Join regulators & industry experts at the 24th IMDRF session- Berlin September 25-26. Register early for discounted hotel rates
  5. Nordic Council of MinistersGlobal interest in the new Nordic Nutrition Recommendations – here are the speakers for the launch
  6. Nordic Council of Ministers20 June: Launch of the new Nordic Nutrition Recommendations

Join EUobserver

Support quality EU news

Join us