Hungary Ready to Bus Migrants to EU Headquarters: ‘One-Way Tickets, Free of Charge’

In a move that emphasizes Hungary’s firm resistance to European Union pressure on migration policies, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s government has announced that buses are prepared to transport illegal migrants directly to Brussels. This bold measure comes as tensions escalate between Hungary and the EU over asylum rules and fines imposed by the European Court of Justice.

Busing Migrants: No Empty Threat

Hungary’s government has made it clear that its plan to bus illegal migrants to the EU headquarters is not merely a rhetorical threat. During a recent press conference, State Secretary Bence Rétvári emphasized that the buses, labeled “Röszke-Brussels,” are ready to depart if the EU continues to impose sanctions and fines on Hungary for its refusal to follow Brussels’ migration policies. “If Brussels wants illegal migrants, Brussels can have them,” Rétvári declared, signaling the government’s readiness to retaliate against what it sees as unjust EU pressure.

Hungary’s Defiance of EU Fines

The conflict stems from a June ruling by the European Court of Justice, which ordered Hungary to pay substantial fines for failing to comply with the EU’s more liberal asylum rules. The initial fine, amounting to €200 million, was followed by an additional €1 million per day until Hungary adjusts its policies. Prime Minister Orbán, however, has refused to back down, arguing that Hungary is merely enforcing the policies that its people voted for. He has even hinted at legal action to overturn the fines while demanding compensation for the billions Hungary has spent on border protection, including the construction of barbed wire fences to keep illegal migrants out.

The #ECJ’s decision to fine #Hungary with 200M euros plus 1M euros daily(!!!) for defending the borders of the European Union is outrageous and unacceptable. It seems that illegal #migrants are more important to the Brussels bureaucrats than their own European citizens.

— Orbán Viktor (@PM_ViktorOrban) June 13, 2024

The deadline for Hungary to pay these fines passed in early September without payment, signaling a further escalation in the standoff between Budapest and Brussels. Hungary’s refusal to comply may lead to additional penalties, including frozen EU grants and the possible stripping of Hungary’s voting rights within the Union.

Hungary’s Plan to Bus Migrants: A Growing Tension

The Hungarian government’s threat to bus migrants to Brussels echoes a similar strategy seen in the U.S., where states like Texas have transported migrants to cities like New York in response to federal immigration policies. Gergely Gulyás, Hungary’s Minister of the Prime Minister’s Office, made it clear that Hungary could offer “one-way tickets to Brussels” to resolve the ongoing dispute.

Negotiations with the EU Commission are expected to take place soon, but the Hungarian government has made it clear that it will not back down if no resolution is reached. The government’s determination to stand firm against the EU’s migration policies is a reflection of Orbán’s broader stance of defending Hungary’s national sovereignty against what he sees as Brussels’ overreach.

Hungary Refuses EU Migrant Quotas: “No Ghettos in Hungary”

Prime Minister Orbán has been vocal in rejecting the EU’s plan to create “migrant ghettos” across Europe. Speaking at a migration summit in Vienna in July 2023, Orbán reiterated Hungary’s refusal to accept the EU’s mandatory migrant relocation quotas. “We will not accept the mandatory quota, nor will we accept the obligation to build ghettos and camps for migrants,” he declared.

Hungary will not implement Brussels' #migration decisions. We will not accept mandatory quotas and we will not build migrant ghettos. Hungary first! 🇭🇺🇭🇺🇭🇺 pic.twitter.com/7FWbDHN0Cc

— Orbán Viktor (@PM_ViktorOrban) July 7, 2023

Orbán’s criticism of the EU’s migration policy is rooted in his belief that Hungary should be able to decide who enters its territory. He has consistently argued for the effectiveness of Hungary’s “model” of migration control, where no one is allowed to enter the country until their asylum application has been processed. According to Orbán, this approach has successfully reduced illegal immigration and should be adopted by other EU countries.

The Hungarian Model vs. Brussels

Despite Hungary’s resistance, the EU continues to push forward with plans to distribute migrants across member states, enforcing quotas and threatening financial penalties on those that refuse to comply. Hungary, however, remains defiant. Orbán has warned that the EU’s policies are not only detrimental to Hungary but also harmful to other European nations, including Austria. He emphasized that Hungary has been on the frontlines of stopping illegal migration and protecting Europe as a whole by securing its borders.

In recent remarks, Orbán highlighted the overwhelming numbers of migrants attempting to cross into Hungary. “We are not only protecting Hungary, we are protecting all of Europe,” he said, noting that 270,000 of the 330,000 illegal immigrants stopped at Europe’s borders in the past year were intercepted at the Hungarian-Serbian border.

The Future of Hungary-EU Relations

As Hungary prepares for its presidency of the EU in the second half of 2024, the standoff over migration policies threatens to overshadow Hungary’s leadership role within the Union. Orbán’s government has made it clear that it will not be cowed by fines or threats from Brussels and will continue to fight what it perceives as unfair and harmful EU policies.

As negotiations progress, the coming months will likely see further clashes between Hungary and the European Union. Orbán’s government has positioned itself as a defender of national sovereignty and a bulwark against mass immigration, while Brussels insists that Hungary must adhere to EU-wide rules. The battle over migration policy is far from over, and Hungary’s planned busing of migrants to Brussels may mark a new and escalation in this ongoing conflict.