Hungary defies EU asylum fines as Brussels seizes funds

The European Union initiated the process of reclaiming hundreds of millions of euros intended for Hungary after the country refused to pay a significant fine imposed for violating EU asylum regulations. In June, the European Court of Justice mandated Hungary to pay 200 million euros for consistently denying migrants their right to seek asylum, with an additional daily fine of 1 million euros for non-compliance. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán criticized the ruling, labeling it as outrageous. The European Commission, responsible for ensuring compliance among EU member states, announced that it would deduct the owed amount from future EU budget payments to Hungary. This decision follows Hungary's failure to respond to the court's ruling or provide any indication of its intentions regarding the fines. The commission has also requested payment for the accumulated daily fines, which have reached 93 million euros. Hungary's government has maintained a strict stance on immigration since the 2015 migrant crisis, which saw over a million people enter Europe, many fleeing conflict in Syria. The country implemented measures such as erecting fences and establishing transit zones for asylum seekers, which were later closed following a 2020 ruling by the ECJ that found Hungary had unlawfully detained asylum applicants and restricted their access to international protection. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Hungary further complicated the asylum process by requiring applicants to travel to other countries to obtain permits before entering Hungary. This ongoing situation highlights the tensions between Hungary's national policies and EU regulations regarding asylum seekers.