CDA and D66 wants to suspend Hungary from Schengen for letting in Russians

The D66 and CDA want to temporarily ban Hungary from Schengen, arguing that the country allows too many Russians into the country without checks. They can then travel to other countries in Europe to spy or infiltrate. The parties urged Prime Minister Dick Schoof to advocate for a temporary “suspension” in Europe as long as Hungary does not improve its checks on Russians, NOS reports.

The Schengen Agreement guarantees the free movement of people between the 22 EU member states that participate in Schengen plus Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein. If Hungary is suspended, there will be passport checks at the country’s borders and no free movement of people and goods.

In a parliamentary debate before the European Council meeting, which Schoof will attend on Tuesday, the D66 and CDA asked the Dutch Prime Minister to make a strong case for such a suspension.

“As long as Hungary rolls out the red carpet for Russian immigrant workers who are not being checked, these kinds of measures are necessary,” D66 parliamentarian Jan Paternotte told NOS. He said that 400 Russians have been deported from Europe in recent years on suspicion of espionage and a NATO base near Limburg narrowly averted a sabotage operation with a drone. “The Russian threat is imminent. Hungary is rolling out the red carpet and we need to put a stop to it.”

Paternotte said he realizes this is a big step, but “the threat is great” and “the time for talking to Hungary is over.” He also called it “bizarre” that the PVV, “which says it is against immigration” has no criticism about the “immigration of Russian migrant workers who may spy or commit attacks.”

“The fact that Wilders is friends with [Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor] Orbán should not determine our policy and certainly not our security,” said the D66 MP.

“We must not be naive,” said CDA leader Henri Bontenbal. “The Russians are engaged in dirty warfare and are trying to infiltrate and influence elections here. I read a report today about Russian infiltration in a Finnish water purification company. Many Member States are fed up with Hungary’s behavior. We should not underestimate the dangers and take action against countries that help the Russians.”

Bontenbal expects that coalition parties VVD and NSC will support the suspension given their previous statements and positions on Hungary. The proposal could, therefore, put even more pressure on already strained relations within the coalition. The PVV is vehemently against it.