The European Commission launched an infringement procedure against Hungary on Friday in connection with the decree that provides for the release of hundreds of migrant guides for the purpose of their deportation, AFP and MTI agencies reported, quoted by Agerpres.

At the end of April, the government of Hungarian nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orbán decided to release 700 prisoners convicted of human trafficking.

The decree required “to leave the territory of Hungary for a maximum of 72 hours” in order to serve the rest of the sentence in the countries of their permanent residence or citizenship.

Budapest authorities have announced that the number of people convicted of human trafficking in Hungarian prisons is increasing, currently accounting for 13% of the total, that is, about 2,600 people from 73 countries.

The decree, published on April 27, aims to limit “costs for Hungarian taxpayers”.

This decision caused displeasure in Austria, which tightened controls on the border with Hungary and summoned the Hungarian ambassador.

The infringement procedure may lead to an appeal to the Court of Justice of the EU and possible financial sanctions

The European Commission emphasizes that “such sanctions applied to persons convicted of human trafficking are neither effective nor dissuasive”, and there are no provisions for monitoring the application of prison sentences for guides outside Hungary.

The EU executive sent a letter of notification to Hungary, which has two months to respond to Brussels’ concerns. The infringement procedure may lead to an appeal to the Court of Justice of the EU and possible financial sanctions.

Hungary reacted soon. Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said the European Union’s migration policy was fertile ground for the success of human traffickers, making the infringement procedure launched by the European Commission on Friday “particularly hypocritical”.

At a press conference together with his Bosnian counterpart, Elmedin Konaković, the Hungarian foreign minister noted that instead of asserting that legal entry is the only way to come to Europe, “Brussels imposes quotas, essentially by sending an invitation letter to everyone to the migrant who is to arrive. here”.

Szijjarto also noted that Hungary spent HUF 650 billion (€1.7 billion) on border security and received only 1% of that amount as compensation from the European Union. He explained that the Hungarian legislation passed in April is aimed at “deporting human traffickers, because it is better for them to be outside the country.”