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Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk warned of a possible expulsion of Hungary from the Schengen Area, a measure proposed as punishment for Budapest, which eased entry rules for Russians.
Last month, Budapest extended its special visa regime to include Russian and Belarusian citizens. The scheme allows foreigners to work in Hungary for up to two years and paves the way for them to apply for permanent residence.
Hungary's move drew attention after European People's Party Chairman Manfred Weber criticized it in a letter to European Council President Charles Michel, claiming the new scheme could make it easier for "Russian spies" to enter the bloc.
Earlier this week, a group of 67 members of the EU Parliament sent a formal letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, demanding that Hungary be punished if it refuses to change its visa policy. One of the signatories, Finnish MP Tytti Tuppurainen, proposed imposing border controls with Hungary and eventually excluding it from the Schengen area if the new visa requirements are not amended.
According to Tusk, drastic measures are not advisable.
"Exclusion from the Schengen Area is actually a prelude to exclusion from the EU," he said at a press conference on Friday.
"I would be careful here... I have made a lot of efforts to remove Viktor Orbán and his party from the international group... but I would be careful with motions to expel countries from the EU, " said Tusk, an outspoken critic of what he called the "Russian position" of Budapest.
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