Hungary will join the Netherlands in asking to be left out of the European Union’s migration policy, a government minister said on Wednesday, which, according to Politico, is another sign that the EU consensus on immigration is “deteriorating,” according to Hungarian newspaper Mandiner.
The new Dutch government announced last week that it intends to implement “the strictest ever asylum policy” and on Wednesday submitted a request for deviation from some EU migration policies. The Hungarian minister responsible for EU Affairs, János Bóka, wrote on X: “Drastic action is needed to stem illegal migration, the Hungarian government will join the Netherlands in asking for an opt-out from EU asylum and migration rules, if a Treaty amendment allows it.”
However, amending EU treaties is a long and complicated process that requires the unanimous decision of all member states. The commission announced at its press conference on Wednesday that it does not expect such a change anytime soon. European asylum and migration rules are binding, and the Dutch migration minister said they will continue to be enforced.
While Germany introduced checks on its borders last week, Hungary has not announced plans to do so.
Hungary remains a “committed member of the Schengen area,” Bóka stated.
The Netherlands’ shift towards an anti-immigration stance is likely to present some issues for the EU over the coming months and perhaps even years, as the Netherlands is a powerful member of Western Europe and a net contributor to the EU budget. It also shows that Hungary’s position is increasingly becoming the mainstream position across European society.
Although an opt-out from the EU’s immigration rules is unlikely, it shows the deep yearning for a turn away from mass immigration across Europe. The news comes at a time when Germany is closing its borders and Sweden is implementing an innovative new remigration program, designed to give migrants up to €31,000 to return to their home countries.
As Remix News reported yesterday, the king of the Netherlands, Willem-Alexander, delivered a groundbreaking speech voicing his opposition to uncontrolled immigration, giving his backing to the government’s efforts to reduce immigration.
In his speech, he placed special emphasis on keeping migration under control, citing faster-than-expected population growth and the consequential pressure on public services and “the way of life of our society.”
