The European Union’s highest court has fined Hungary €200 million (£169 million) for failing to comply with the bloc’s asylum policy.
The court will also impose a fine of 1 million euros per day until it changes its policy.
The European Court of Justice said Budapest violated a 2020 ruling that it violated EU laws by forcing asylum seekers to travel to Belgrade or Kiev to apply for a travel permit to enter the country. Hungary.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, in a message on important for Brussels bureaucrats than their own Europe. citizens”.
Hungary has taken a hard line on migrants from third countries since more than a million people entered the country in 2015, most fleeing the war in Syria. The Hungarian government erected border barriers and attempted to prevent many people from crossing the border.
EU Rules of law that anyone fleeing persecution in their country of origin has the right to seek international protection and cannot be returned home if there is a serious risk of death or torture.
In a press release issued on Thursday, the European Court said Hungary had “deliberately” avoided implementing EU policy and that its failure “constituted an unprecedented and extremely serious violation of EU law.” .
The failure was because the country illegally detained people seeking international protection and failed to respect their right to stay in Hungary until the appeal on their application was exhausted, the court said .
The court said Hungary’s failure to comply with EU laws shifted responsibility to other EU countries and undermined solidarity.
A new EU policy on Asylum, which aims to speed up the asylum procedure, requires member countries to either welcome thousands of migrants from “front-line” countries, such as Italy, Greece and Spain, or provide additional funding or resources instead.
In response, Hungary pledged not to accept irregular migrants, regardless of the agreement reached.
Hungary will take over the rotating presidency of the EU on July 1.
