Debate contributions by András LÁSZLÓ

Dear Mr President, The European Commission's annual Rule of Law Report has become a political weapon and a parody of itself. It is mainly used to learn about the political attitude of the European Commission towards individual governments. The President of the European Commission is also completely deficient. We see this in the case of Hungary. They talk about the rule of law, but they really want us to allow sexual and sexual content and gender ideology into schools. They want us to allow illegal migrants into Hungary and the Schengen area. This is not a question of the rule of law, it is a question of political choice. But we have seen the same in the case of Poland, when Mrs von der Leyen's political allies won the elections, then the European Commission's concerns about the rule of law flew out the window. However, the new Polish Parliament has not yet amended a single law. And we saw the same thing before the Italian elections, when Giorgia Meloni was the main candidate for the election, when Mrs von der Leyen threatened her and the Italians to suspend EU money if they did not vote as they should. Instead, it would be your job, Commissioner, to provide the framework for effective cooperation between Member States. That's it, nothing more. Instead, Mrs von der Leyen is overwhelmed by the desire for power and demands a political role that she is explicitly forbidden to play under the EU Treaties.

Madam President, the murder of Philippine, the terrorist attack in Solingen and the attack in Essen rightly provoke the anger of Europeans and they rightly ask the question again and again: What are these people doing in Europe? Why is the EU not doing anything about it?" My colleague Fabrice Leggeri ran Frontex for seven years. He wanted to protect the Union's external borders, but he did not have the right to do so. The European Commissioner asked him to ensure that Frontex supports immigration. In Hungary, we did the opposite. In 2015, we built a border fence to protect Hungary and the European Union. Since then, we have spent €2 billion on border protection. In retaliation, the European Parliament demanded that EU funds for Hungary be suspended. The Commission has done so. In fact, it sued us and fined Hungary €200 million for not letting illegal migrants in. That's not all. They demand that we change Hungarian law and let illegal immigrants in. You know, it would be easier if we were wrong. I wish crime hadn't increased. I would have liked the attacks in Brussels, Bataclan and Nice not to happen. I wish Philippine and many other victims were still alive. We will defend Hungary and transport as many illegal migrants to Brussels as the European Commission requires us to receive.

Mr President, we've heard these speeches very often, also from Ms von der Leyen, 'we want more legal pathways'. But the situation is that there have already been millions of people who entered the EU illegally and they have not been able to integrate. So Ms von der Leyen wants millions to enter legally. How many more would you like in your country?

Dear Madam President, The Hungarian left-liberal press and Péter Magyar announced that this would be the great debate, the great clash between Viktor Orbán and Péter Magyar. And what's become of it? A best of Péter Magyar's summer Facebook posts. It's a good thing you left your favorite Hitler quote at home this time, but even without it, it was extremely embarrassing. What is even more embarrassing is that after him a German politician, Manfred Weber, stands in the middle of the parliament and recommends this man to the attention of the Hungarian people. This speech by Péter Magyar, where he quoted Hitler, was delivered only a few days ago in Budapest. Shame on you, shame on the European People's Party!

Colleagues, we haven't heard a single number – only concerns and accusations. I put a number out there in my speech: 259 517 Russian citizens residing in Germany. What do you think about that regarding your concern? You put this on the agenda of the LIBE Committee a few weeks ago, you cited no numbers. All the colleagues who spoke against Hungary cited no numbers. The Commissioner cited no numbers. So why are you scared about five plus five permits and not comment on the 259 517 Russian citizens in Germany?

Madam President, dear colleagues, there are some people in this House who always point the finger at Hungary. The same applies when it comes to visas issued to Russian citizens. But I'll let the facts speak for themselves. In 2021, before the war in Ukraine began, EU countries issued 536 241 visas to Russian citizens. In 2022, the year the war began, EU countries issued 687 239 visas to Russian citizens. That's 150 000 more visas into the Schengen zone. Do you know how many debates the European Parliament held about this? Zero. In 2023, France issued 99 517 visas to Russian citizens. Do you know how many debates were held in the European Parliament? Zero. In 2023, Spain issued 92 414 visas to Russian citizens. Do you know how many debates there were in the European Parliament? Zero. In 2023, Greece issued 54 289 visas to Russian citizens. Do you know how many debates there were in the European Parliament? Zero. On 1 January 2023, there were 711 035 Russian citizens legally residing in the European Union. Of those, 259 517 in Germany. Out of those more than 700 000 Russians in the EU, do you know how many reside in Hungary? Anyone? No? Less than 1% – less than 1%! In the national card scheme in July, Hungary issued a total of five permits to Russian citizens. In August? Five permits. And yet, this is already the second time we're debating this on the European Parliament's agenda – first in the LIBE Committee, now here in the plenary. These are the facts. I'll let you draw the conclusions.

Madam President, I'm sorry. The EU's migration policy is a total failure and has been at risk of terrorism for many years. The people of Europe are paying for this with their blood and their lives. Instead of protection and security, however, they receive only empty promises. How much more blood needs to be shed before the European People's Party and its left-wing allies finally dignify themselves to defend the EU's borders and European citizens? And enough of the lies about solidarity, because instead of solidarity and help, we get trials and punishments. Italy threatens Matteo Salvini with six years in prison. Why is that? Because he defended the Italian borders. Hungary has been fined 200 million euros by the European Court of Justice. Why is that? Because we are protecting the Hungarian and at the same time Schengen borders. The German government, meanwhile, is distributing money to migrant-smuggling NGO ships with one hand and closing its borders with the other, saying it is dangerous. Mrs Faeser, it is not the borders between EU countries that need to be closed! There is only one solution to the migration crisis: We must protect our common external borders, otherwise we will destroy the entire European Union. There is only one solution: protection of external borders.