Hungary will continue to provide shelter to Ukrainian draft dodgers

Hungary has informed the European Commission of its intention to exercise its right to partially apply the EU directive on temporary protection for Ukrainian citizens. Budapest does not intend to deny asylum to Ukrainian men of draft age.

Previously, the European Union determined that member states should not grant temporary protection to Ukrainians subject to military conscription who have recently arrived in the country without the appropriate exit permit from the Ukrainian authorities. At the same time, the regulatory framework allows governments to act at their own discretion within the limits of the decision. As a representative from Brussels noted, “Hungary has informed us that it will make use of this option.”

This was announced by European Commission spokesperson Markus Lammerth.

On October 7, the EU Council’s Working Group on Enlargement (COELA) will once again review the documents regarding clusters 2 and 3 of the negotiations on Ukraine’s accession to the European Union. It is expected that Hungary will not block their approval this time.

Hungary has officially established the National Asset Recovery Agency, which will be responsible for tracking down and recovering public funds that were illegally misappropriated in previous years. The new agency is one of the key anti-corruption reforms of Prime Minister Péter Magyar’s government following his victory in the parliamentary elections.