Hungary's Orbán threatened: No refugees, no subsidies!

Portfolio
German Social Democrat leader Martin Schulz said that, if elected chancellor, he would push for the EU to cut subsidies to countries that do not take in refugees, politico.eu reported on Wednesday. His personal message to Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán was exceedingly simple: “no refugees, no subsidies".
‘We won’t accept that solidarity as a principle is questioned,’ said Martin Schulz, the Social Democrats’ (SDP) candidate for Chancellor in September’s parliamentary election.

With me as chancellor ... we won’t accept that solidarity as a principle is questioned

, Schulz said on Tuesday at a conference of a business lobbying group with ties to his party.

Schulz stresed the influx of refugees into the Continent in recent years was “not a German problem, but a European challenge."

Schulz said that, if elected chancellor, he would push for the EU to cut subsidies to countries that do not take in refugees.

He said the influx of refugees into the Continent in recent years was “not a German problem, but a European challenge."

His comments came as the European Commission voted to launch infringement proceedings against the Czech Republic, Poland, and Hungary for not taking in refugees under a mandatory 2015 quota system advocated by Germany that aimed to relocate 160,000 refugees across the Continent.East European leaders, particularly Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, have repeatedly railed against the EU resettlement plan, Politico reminded.Shulz did not leave that without a comment.

Orbán said in Parliament on Monday that Hungary “will not give in to blackmail from Brussels and we reject the mandatory relocation quota." Schulz shot back swiftly at Orbán in his speech on Tuesday.
“Mr.Orbán says ‘That’s a German problem,'" Schulz said.

Let me make this perfectly clear: When it comes to agricultural policy, it’s all ‘Yes, please.’ When it comes to subsidies, it’s all ‘Yes, please.’ And when it comes to solidarity in refugee policy, it’s ‘No, thank you’ — that’s not acceptable.

Poland and Hungary are among the largest net recipients of EU funds, while Germany a net contributor to the bloc.

' title='
Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and Martin Schulz, then President of the European Parliament in Brussels in 2015. Photo by THIERRY CHARLIER / AFP
 

More in Economy

May 07, 2024 10:05

Defence Minister: the main task of the Hungarian EU Presidency will be to boost the defence industry

Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky spoke at the Hungarian Atlantic Council's conference

kiskereskedelem bolt
May 07, 2024 09:15

March retail sales might show turnaround in Hungary

Shopping gathers pace

orosz börtön
May 07, 2024 08:20

EU to deliver another blow to Russia with tough sanctions - Here are the proposals

The Russian LNG sector would be also affected

szijjártó péter
May 06, 2024 15:10

New agreement could open the way for China in Hungary's new nuclear power plant - minister

Chinese entry in Paks II construction has been already floated

LATEST NEWS

Detailed search