Orbán writes a letter to EC president about infringement procedures

Prime Minister Viktor Orbán on Monday called on the European Commission to suspend all infringement procedures that would “that undermine Member States’ actions aiming at the protection of their territorial and national integrity, as well as the security of their citizens”.

In a letter sent to EC president Ursula von der Leyen on Monday, Orbán said “the situation that is unfolding on the eastern borders of the Union from hour to hour and the debates that have been going on between the Commission and Hungary have left some crucial questions unanswered.”

In the current extraordinary situation, which threatens the bloc’s security and territorial integrity, “Member States cannot be challenged and punished for providing viable – yet proportionate – solutions for crises that threaten us all,” Orbán said.

Orban noted that in its conclusions of October 21-22, the European Council invited the EC to propose changes to the EU’s “inoperable and obsolete” legal framework, to enable the member states’ “immediate and appropriate response” in migration issues.

“We can perhaps all agree that the current legal framework does not provide adequate means that Member States under pressure can apply in a crisis situation,”

Orbán said. He cited as “the weakest link” EU regulations which require member states to allow free entry for anyone arriving from other member states, enabling asylum seekers to move between states before the asylum procedure is completed. This, in turn, “encourages other Member States to perpetuate internal border protection contrary to the Schengen Borders Code,” he said.