The initiative, led by the Liberal Group for a New Europe, addresses concerns about an agreement permitting Chinese police officers to patrol Hungary alongside local officers.

A 2022 report by a Spanish-based NGO revealed that China then operated more than 100 illegal police stations worldwide, including some 30 in 14 EU countries (two in Budapest).

Since then, European national authorities have sought to end the activities of these police service posts, suspected of monitoring and trying to force "dissidents" to return home.

The EP agenda also includes discussions on the rule of law in Hungary.

Jobbik Turns to Sovereignty Protection Office Over Plan on Chinese Police Officers

The opposition Jobbik-Conservatives party will submit an inquiry of public interest to the Sovereignty Protection Office in connection with the government’s plan to assign Chinese police officers a patrolling task in Hungary, the leader of the party said.

The party requests the authority’s position on whether or not “the participation of persons employed by an autocratic state, a ‘dictatorship’ controlling their citizens, in maintaining public order and public security is a gross violation of Hungary’s sovereignty”, Márton Gyöngyösi said.

He said that the party would like to know “what is the guarantee of preventing access to the personal data of Hungarian citizens by Chinese police officers who might misuse them”.

Under Hungary’s fundamental law, ensuring public security and public order is the duty of domestic authorities, Gyöngyösi argued, insisting that such a duty “cannot be outsourced to anybody”.

“National sovereignty for us is not a political product, but a very important question,” he said.

DK: Stationing Chinese Police in Hungary Would 'Violate Sovereignty'

Importing Chinese police to serve in Hungary would violate the country’s sovereignty, the opposition Democratic Coalition (DK) said.

A politician of the leftist party, Géza Mustó, said the Sovereignty Protection Office had confirmed that Chinese and Hungarian police officers would mount patrols “during the main tourist season, in peak periods and at events with large crowds” in light of an increase in Chinese tourism to the country.

Mustó said DK sought information on what kind of authorisation Chinese police officers would be given and whether they would have access to the personal data of Chinese citizens living here or that of Hungarian citizens.

In addition, DK wants to know how many officers would be deployed, whether they would operate from their own headquarters, and the duration of their service, he said.

​​​​​​​Further, it should be revealed whether they would they carry weapons and what means of coercion they may have over Hungarian citizens, he added.

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