Hungary poised to sue EU over border protection costs PM aide reveals

Hungary is poised to take legal action against the European Commission, demanding reimbursement for approximately €2 billion ($2.20 billion) spent on safeguarding the EU's external borders, according to Prime Minister Viktor Orban's chief of staff Gergely Gulyas.

Orban's hardline stance on immigration, which included closing a major transit route in 2015 for asylum seekers, bolstered domestic support but drew widespread criticism from EU partners.

"Hungary has invested €2 billion in securing the Schengen border without receiving any substantial assistance from the EU," the chief of staff stated, Caliber.Az reports citing his quote in foreign media.

Orban’s position has gained traction following Germany's recent decision to introduce stricter border checks starting September 16, a move aimed at addressing irregular migration and shifting away from its previous open-door policy.

"These changes indicate a significant shift in Europe," Gulyas remarked. "In 2015, Orban warned that without proper enforcement of EU laws and the Schengen Agreement, the system would fail."

The new German border controls are seen by Gulyas as undermining the EU’s free movement zone, reflecting broader concerns about the stability of the Schengen area.