Hungary pushes back against EU over asylum rules for Ukrainian men
Photo: Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar (Getty Images)
The Hungarian government will not support the EU’s proposal to revoke temporary protection for Ukrainian men of draft age, according to Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar.
What EU Commission proposes
During a parliamentary session, László Toroczkai, a lawmaker from the Mi Hazánk party, drew attention to the European Commission’s proposal dated June 26.
According to him, the European Commission proposes that, in the future, temporary protection not be granted to Ukrainian citizens of draft age if they do not have permission from the Ukrainian authorities to leave the country due to military obligations.
Toroczkai states that this could also affect ethnic Hungarians in Zakarpattia.
According to the MP, such men could be sent "over 1,000 kilometers from their homeland to the front lines as cannon fodder."
He calls on the Hungarian government and the Minister of Foreign Affairs to oppose this initiative.
What was Magyar's response?
Péter Magyar replies that Hungary’s position had already been articulated at the EU Home Affairs Council meeting in Luxembourg.
According to him, Hungarian Interior Minister Gábor Pósfai states that Budapest, along with six or seven other countries, does not support the European Commission’s proposal.
The Prime Minister also notes that even if the new rules are approved at the EU level and take effect in approximately March 2027, this will not deprive Hungary of the right to independently grant refugee status to people arriving in the country to escape war or mobilization.
"Every Hungarian citizen can count on the Tisza government, both here and abroad," Péter Magyar states.
Previously, EU countries discussed whether to revoke temporary protection for men of draft age after 2027. The changes could affect two categories.
