EU countries call on the EU over concerns about Hungary's decision to ease entry for Russians

Representatives of the Baltic and Northern European countries wrote a letter to the European Commission expressing concern about Hungary's decision to ease visa requirements for Russian and Belarusian citizens.

The ministers in their letter addressed to Ylva Johansson, the European Commissioner for Home Affairs, called Hungary's decision unjustified, as Russia is waging war against Ukraine and intensifying its hybrid actions against the EU.

"Regardless of whether it falls under national or Union competence, we are worried that this decision may constitute a serious security risk to all Member States. … Hungary's reply, your analysis and the next steps will be of the utmost importance in ensuring our national security," the letter reads.

The letter was signed by the foreign ministers as well as the interior or justice ministers of Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland and Iceland.

On 1 August, the EU demanded that Hungary respond to concerns that Budapest's decision to ease visa requirements for Russian and Belarusian nationals increases the risk of espionage in the bloc.

The largest group in the European Parliament, the European People's Party, had previously complained that loosening the regulations could create "serious loopholes for espionage activities".