The European Commission announced on Wednesday that it has taken legal action against Hungary in the European Court over a decree that allows the release of human traffickers, marking a new chapter in its ongoing confrontation with Prime Minister Viktor Orban.
In April 2023, Hungary’s nationalist government passed a decree permitting the release of hundreds of imprisoned human traffickers, aiming for their expulsion from the country.
This measure was presented as a solution to prison overcrowding and a means to ease the financial burden on Hungarian taxpayers, but it was also seen as a challenge to the European Union’s migration policy.
The European Commission has repeatedly criticised this measure, pointing out the lack of provisions to monitor the enforcement of detention sentences for traffickers outside Hungary, effectively allowing them to go free.
In response, the Commission initially sent a formal notice to Hungary and then decided on Wednesday to bring the matter before the European Court of Justice.
Under Viktor Orban’s leadership, Hungary has taken a tough stance on illegal immigration, a policy that has previously led to several EU court rulings against the country.
In June 2024, Budapest was ordered to pay a record €200 million fine, with an additional daily penalty of €1 million, for failing to comply with EU asylum laws.
More broadly, Hungary is under scrutiny by the European Union for violations of the rule of law principles.
The EU is currently withholding several billion euros in funds from Hungary due to various concerns, including issues related to the rights of LGBT+ persons, asylum seekers, public procurement practices, and conflicts of interest.
