EU Unlikely to Sanction Hungary for Amendments to Block EU Migrant Quota

The European Union is unlikely to impose any kind of punishment on Hungary following the adoption by the Hungarian parliament of amendments to the constitution aimed at blocking EU migrant relocation scheme, the vice chairman of the Hungarian National Assembly's Committee on Foreign Affairs, told Sputnik on Monday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — On Monday, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban submitted to the National Assembly the amendments to block the EU migrant resettlement plan following the October 2 referendum, in which the majority of voters decided to reject the EU mandatory quotas.

"Undoubtedly, reactions to the referendum in various EU countries were nasty. Threats of suspending EU funds to Hungary, or even stripping Hungary of its rights within the community were declared after October 2. However, I think it is only political communication and pressurizing, I see little chance for that happening," Marton Gyongyosi said when asked about possible countermeasures by Brussels.

In late September, the leaders from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden expressed their concerns over Orban’s refusal to follow EU rules on the treatment of displaced people and in a joint letter called on EU Migration Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos to "act promptly."

Earlier the same month, Luxembourg’s Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn suggested that Hungary should be suspended from the European Union for violating democratic core values and mistreating migrants.

Despite threats and hard-wording, the bloc, according to Gyongyos, simply cannot afford another deepening conflict after Brexit.

"The European political elite is just trying to take advantage of the sad fact that the referendum was invalid, which certainly weakened Orban's European position," the lawmaker said.

The October 2 referendum fell short of the required 50 percent-plus-one-vote threshold to become valid, but Orban announced last week that 3.3 million "no" votes led to him drawing up a proposal that reflects the fact.

"The amendment to the constitution requires 2/3 majority, which Fidesz does not have. Jobbik made clear that it will support Fidesz so it is a formality," the member of Jobbik, the third largest party that holds 24 seats in 199-seat National Assembly, suggested.

He added that the party leader Gabor Vona offered Orban to negotiate the amendments and details privately before the vote.

Jobbik is the only opposition party that supports the idea to rebuff Brussels on its quota scheme, according to which Budapest must accept some 1300 migrants. At the same time the party has strongly opposed holding a referendum, suggesting amending the law in parliament from the very beginning.