Hungary’s government is offering free one-way tickets to Brussels for migrants and asylum seekers in response to fines imposed for its strict asylum policies. The European Court of Justice fined Hungary for violating EU rules and imposed penalties until the country aligns its policies with EU law.
Gergely Gulyas, chief of staff to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, criticized the ruling and stated that Hungary would offer transport to Brussels for migrants if EU regulations hinder their ability to detain migrants at the border.
Since the influx of migrants in 2015, Hungary has implemented strict measures, including border fences and transit zones for asylum seekers. The EU has criticized Hungary’s asylum system and requested fines, which Orban has vowed to defy.
Gulyas expressed Hungary’s reluctance to pay daily fines indefinitely and emphasized their willingness to transport migrants to Brussels if needed. This move echoes actions taken by some US governors sending migrants to specific cities in protest of federal policies.