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The decision to protect Hungary from the resurgence of new cases in Europe was announced on Friday and officially took effect on Tuesday.
The Hungarian move received a critical response in Brussels. The European Commission argues that it is worth opting for more nuanced restrictions.
“There is a clear need to replace all restrictions on free movement with more specific measures in terms of time or geographic scope. For example, restrictions can only be imposed on arrivals from specific areas, ”said Vivian Loonela, spokesperson for the European Commission.
The Hungarian authorities defend their position, arguing that Hungary is currently in the green zone and that the rest of Europe is already in the red.
“Perhaps closing the borders is one more provocation for the European Union. Perhaps Orban should think better if he wants to belong to the European Union. If you belong to a team, you have to follow the rules, ”commented Dutch MEP Sophie in’t Veld on Euronews decision in Hungary.
Hungary has come under fire for failing to officially inform travelers and European Union partners before the ban went into effect.
The Hungarian government’s move raises concerns that European Union countries seeking to combat the spread of the coronavirus are imposing uncoordinated border crossings and endangering the cornerstone of the world’s largest trading bloc, the free movement of goods and people.
European Commission spokesman Christian Wigand told reporters that “EU citizens cannot be discriminated against when it comes to travel restrictions. The European Union has clear rules on freedom of movement and all countries must respect them. “
Pasak Ch. Wigando, the Commissioner for Justice and Home Affairs, has already warned the Orban government in writing about the problems it faces. The EU executive provides legislation to the 27-nation bloc and oversees its implementation.
“Any measure that does not comply with the fundamental principles of EU law must, of course, be repealed immediately,” EU Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders wrote on Twitter. He added that the Commission wanted “more information” on the Hungarian move from government ministries.
The EC reiterated its call to EU countries to coordinate with neighboring countries on any restrictions on border crossing.
“It is quite clear that common European challenges require European coordination,” he said. Wigandas.
As many European countries see an increase in coronavirus infections after their summer holidays, the new restrictions on travelers are beginning to resemble the panic closure of internal EU borders in February, when a pandemic broke out in Italy and was they detained people and property, including medical equipment.
Experts fear that uncoordinated actions by states could have a negative impact not only on the economy. Furthermore, countries may have a habit of closing their doors whenever they want, which would be disastrous for the European area of free movement, the Schengen area.
From now on, citizens returning to Hungary from abroad will have to isolate themselves for two weeks, unless their coronavirus tests are negative twice in a row.
Gergely Gulyas, head of Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s administration, said that from now on foreigners will not be able to enter the country without a “justifiable reason.” He could not specify what the reasons could be.
“As of September 1, foreigners will not be able to enter the territory of Hungary. Hungarian citizens returning from abroad must remain in quarantine for 14 days or present two negative tests [dėl koronaviruso]”- said the head of the administration of Prime Minister Viktor Orban.
“The epidemiological classification of countries has been abolished. Hungary is “green”, all other countries have turned “red”, Gulyas told reporters, adding that most of the new infections are imported.
9.7 million Hungary, with a population of 6,000, has officially announced that 616 people have died from the coronavirus infection in COVID-19. Unlike Spain or France, Hungary is now not considered a focus of coronavirus infection.
On Friday, 132 new cases of infection were registered in the country, the second largest daily increase in the country since the beginning of the pandemic.
August 20 German Chancellor Angela Merkel has called on European leaders to make a concerted effort to avoid a new quarantine at a time when the resurgence of the coronavirus threatens already shattered economies.
“Politically, we want to avoid another border closure at all costs, but that means coordinated action,” Merkel said during a visit to French President Emmanuel Macron at his presidential residence on the Mediterranean coast.
The summit took place at a time when European authorities are considering re-imposing restrictions to curb a new wave of infections, Bloomberg wrote.
The bloc is torn between the need to overcome the public health crisis and efforts not to deal another blow to economies that could no longer face another quarantine.
The dilemma became apparent when the tourist bloc countries tried to reopen when the summer season rolled around, but were forced to cancel late parties as social gatherings and travelers were accused of spreading new infections.
Merkel and Macron, the leaders of the most powerful economies in the eurozone, intervened together and said the main goal was not to repeat the austerity measures introduced during the first peak of the pandemic in March and April.
The French leader laid the foundations for this position in an interview with Paris Match, in which he made it clear that “the country cannot be closed again because isolation brings significant additional damage.”
“We have to follow the same strategy and rules, I am talking about a prevention strategy,” Macron said. “We must avoid the mistakes that were made at the beginning of the crisis.”
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