In the letter, the Commission demanded that they be given a proper clarification and, at the same time, set a deadline for August 19, EU Helpers reports.

Earlier in July, Hungary decided to expand its guest worker scheme to include nationals of Russia and Belarus.

Under this specific scheme, Russians and Belarusians are able to obtain work visas under facilitated rules without proper clearance.

These visas are valid for two years and can be extended for an additional period of three years, which means that Russians and Belarusians are ultimately eligible for permanent residence and settle with their families in Hungary.

The easing of the visa rules for these two nationalities has raised concerns about the EU’s security among the authorities, pushing the Commission to demand answers from the Hungarian authorities.

As the EU Commission spokesperson Anitta Hipper revealed, the Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson, inquired in the letter for Hungary to provide more information about the sope of the application of this scheme and its compliance with the EU law.

During a briefing held yesterday, Hipper also emphasised that Russia represents a security threat to the EU and that Hungary is bound by the obligations to check if the entry conditions of the Schengen Border Code are being respected.

67 MEPs Have Already Pushed for Hungary’s Suspension From Schengen Area

Following Hungary’s decision to facilitate the visa rules for Russians and Belarusians, 67 members of the EU Parliament have required the Commission to impose stricter measures against the country.

The MEPs sent a letter to the EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, in which they said if Hungary refuses to change its visa policy, border controls should be introduced with the country, suggesting a suspension from the zone.

The member of the Finnish Parliament and the leader of the Social Democratic Parliamentary Group, Tytti Tuppurainen, has also called for tough measures against Hungary.

Tuppurainen said Hungary should be excluded from the Schengen Area and that border controls be introduced.

Other EU leaders have also required the EU to take action as soon as possible as the decision of Hungary to ease visa rules for Russians and Belarusians can put the EU’s security at risk.