The Brussels liberal elite mentions national security concerns in connection with simplified procedures, although based on economic considerations, Germany has long been easing visa acquisition for Russian workers…
While visa policies of EU member states affecting Russia (or more precisely, Russian citizens) are easing in more and more places – think about the lifting of restrictions related to the issuance of short-stay (type C) visas in countries like Bulgaria or Romania. Moreover, in other places, the opportunity has reopened for investors from countries in conflict to obtain a residence permit in exchange for a financial contribution (e.g. Portugal’s “Golden Visa Program”). Although some experts argue that the latter never actually ceased in reality, which also speaks volumes about the seriousness of European sanctions.
Meanwhile, the international left is conducting an unprecedented propaganda campaign against our country (currently) due to the extension of the National Card program, under which, in addition to Serbia and Ukraine (!), citizens from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Russia, North Macedonia, Moldova, and Belarus will be able to benefit from simplified procedures (!) for working in Hungary in the future. However, this administrative simplification does not mean that the expected, not to mention legally required, strict and comprehensive security checks should not be mandatory for the individuals in question by the competent authorities.
Nevertheless, the hypocritical liberal communication machine immediately raised security concerns in connection with Russian workers, who are actually needed for their special expertise (building a nuclear power plant using Russian technology). (How forward-looking it would be to hear responsible left-wing voices like these – among others – in relation to migration as well).
Manfred Weber, the once right-wing “strongman” of the European People’s Party, even wrote a letter to Charles Michel, the President of the European Council, in which he stated that the Hungarian system “raises serious national security concerns” and “creates serious loopholes for espionage activities”.
However, the conservative German politician who turns his back on conservative values is most likely aware that his country has long been enticing Russian workers to Germany through visa facilitation and benefits based on economic considerations.
“In view of the special situation, the federal government is striving for bureaucratic procedures”, stated a government document dated July 18, 2022, referring to this. “Considering the political situation in the Russian Federation and the ongoing war in Ukraine, many skilled workers are leaving the Russian Federation and seeking new life and work opportunities in other countries. According to the German government, this represents additional skilled labor potential for German companies”. Therefore, “the federal government supports the recruitment of skilled workers from the Russian Federation to Germany. For this reason, measures have been taken to speed up visa procedures for the transfer of Russian employees to Germany by German and international companies”.
The related “accelerated skilled worker recruitment procedure” (Das beschleunigte Fachkräfteverfahren) significantly shortens the recognition and visa application process duration, and applies when the competent local immigration authority has granted prior authorization under paragraph 81a of the Residence Act (~Aufenthaltsgesetz).
According to this, employers can request expedited processing from the relevant immigration authority, with the authorization of the foreigner (e.g. Russian citizen) who wishes to enter the country for residence purposes when the conditions laid down in the law are met. If the requirements specified in the law are met, the competent authority must give immediate preliminary approval for the issuance of the visa.
So, in this case, it is also about speeding up and simplifying the processing of national visas for work purposes – among others – in relation to Russian citizens, which is exactly why our country once again has to endure ignoble political witch hunts.
Not only that, the German government has also launched an advertising campaign through the “Make it in Germany” federal government portal, which has been running since June 1, 2022, in Armenia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, and Turkey, as these countries currently have a particularly large number of Russian skilled workers. The aim of the campaign is to arouse interest in skilled work in Germany’s labor market. The chambers of commerce in Kazakhstan and Turkey even provide support for local recruitment of Russian skilled workers as needed.
As for Weber’s fears about EU national security in relation to Hungarian regulations, the German government document itself records that Russian intelligence activities have been at a high level in Germany for years, with espionage activities extending to politics, business, science, technology, and even the military. Therefore, it may not be the right path for German politicians to seek the source of danger precisely in reducing the administrative burdens in Hungary.
Therefore, it is clear from the above that the current propaganda campaign and double standards against Hungary are once again just another chapter in the incredibly hypocritical and two-faced “politics” that the Brussels liberal elite has been conducting against our country for some time.
