Hungary seeks suspension of €1m daily EU fine over asylum law non-compliance

Hungary's incoming prime minister, Peter Magyar, has proposed suspending a daily €1 million fine imposed by the European Union for the country's failure to comply with EU asylum laws.

The fine, which has accumulated to approximately €600 million, was originally levied following a 2020 ruling against Hungary for forcing asylum seekers back to Serbia.

The fine was first imposed two years ago by the EU court, with Hungary's former prime minister, Viktor Orbán, refusing to pay the penalty.

Magyar, who is set to take office next month, now faces the financial burden amid a struggling Hungarian economy.

Magyar has indicated that suspending the fine is necessary to help restart the economy and to reclaim around €17 billion in lost EU funds.

The European Commission has stated that the fine will be lifted once Hungary implements the required asylum rules, emphasizing that compliance with the court ruling is essential.

Despite this, Magyar has expressed opposition to the new EU asylum and migration rules, aligning with similar stances taken by other member states such as Poland.

This opposition persists even though the number of asylum seekers to be relocated under the new rules is significantly lower than initially proposed by the European Commission.

The fine and Hungary's asylum policies remain a significant issue as the country undergoes political transition.

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