An initiative group of members of the European Parliament (MEPs) has demanded from the European Commission to suspend Hungary's participation in the Schengen zone, reports Politico.

Reporters said that 70 European Parliament legislators have signed the respective letter. After that, Czech and Latvian MEPs Danuse Nerudova and Petras Austrevicius have sent the letter to the European Parliament.

The text calls for urgent measures to be taken to investigate Budapest's decision to relax visa requirements for citizens of eight countries. Among them, it refers to Russia and Belarus.

According to these MEPs, these actions of the Hungarian authorities may put under a “risk” the role of the Schengen zone as a safe area for the residents of its member countries.

The authors of this letter emphasized that if Budapest refuses to revise its policy, the members of the European Union (EU) shall question the presence of Hungary in the Schengen zone.

Also, the letter proposes to oversee the EU borders with Hungary and refuse to recognize visas issued by it.

In late July, Hungary introduced an accelerated visa processing system for Russians, Belarusians, and citizens of six other countries. Under the new rules, they no longer have to pass a security check to enter Hungary.