Hungary to Contest EU Court's Fine Regarding Asylum Policy Compliance
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Budapest, Dec 20 (NationPress) The Hungarian government has revealed its plans to contest an outrageous and unacceptable fine of 200 million euros ($207.3 million) levied by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) earlier this year.
This penalty, along with a daily charge of 1 million euros, originates from Hungary's purported non-compliance with the European Union (EU) asylum regulations, as reported by Xinhua news agency.
In a statement released on Thursday evening, Justice Minister Bence Tuzson condemned the ECJ ruling, asserting that it surpassed the European Commission's original request and was insufficiently justified. He also expressed concerns regarding the judicial proceedings, alleging a violation of Hungary's right to a fair trial.
Since 2015, Hungary has been actively safeguarding the borders of the European Union, a venture that has largely gone unsupported financially by the EU, according to the ministry's statement.
The administration of Prime Minister Viktor Orban is currently in consultation with international law firms to pursue legal action.
"Hungary is preparing to initiate legal proceedings against the European Union, seeking reparations for damages incurred as a result of the ECJ's ruling," the ministry's statement noted.
Tuzson highlighted that the European Union owes Hungary compensation for the financial pressures faced while securing the EU's external borders.
The ECJ determined in June that Hungary had not rectified the violations identified in a 2020 ruling. These violations encompassed limiting access to asylum procedures, detaining asylum seekers in transit zones, and expelling third-country nationals without due process.
The court characterized Hungary's actions as a serious threat to the unity of EU law, compromising the principles of solidarity and shared responsibility among member states.
Orban, a prominent critic of EU migration policies, has vowed to uphold Hungary's sovereignty. "We will defend the borders and the Hungarian people," Orban stated, accusing Brussels of financial coercion. (1 euro = 1.04 US dollar)
