In the latest move to snub Hungary’s European Council presidency, MEPs have demanded that the country’s EU voting rights be stripped, following the prime minister’s rogue Ukraine ‘peace mission’ to Russia and China, among other countries.
On Tuesday, 63 MEPs sent a letter to the EU’s top three officials—Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President Charles Michel, and European Parliament President Roberta Metsola—saying that the Hungarian Prime Minister, Victor Orbán, has “caused significant damage by exploiting and abusing the role of the Council Presidency.”
Hungary took over the Council’s six-month rotating presidency on July 1. Shortly afterward, Orbán, whose government has repeatedly blocked EU military aid to Ukraine, took off on a self-styled ‘peace mission,’ making controversial visits to Moscow, Beijing, Washington D.C., and Kyiv to allegedly broker a peace deal over the war in Ukraine. He didn’t, however, consult his European partners on this decision.
In the letter, MEPs said that the Hungarian leader “undertook several diplomatic visits, notably to visit Putin in Russia and Xi Jinping in China, during which he intentionally misrepresented his empowerments.”
The letter was supported by MEPs from many countries and parliamentary groups, including the Greens, EPP, and Renew, and it urged the Parliament to take action.
The move comes as Orbán issued a letter to EU leaders in which he stated that if Donald Trump wins the upcoming U.S. presidential election, he “will not wait until his inauguration” and will immediately “be ready to act as a peace broker” between Kyiv and Moscow.
The Hungarian PM, who has long criticized European military support for Ukraine in contrast to most allies who support Kyiv’s war effort, said that a potential Trump victory would change the burden between the United States and the EU when it comes to financial support for Ukraine, to the disadvantage of the Europeans.
He also suggested “reopening direct lines of diplomatic communication with Russia” while maintaining high-level contacts with Kyiv as well as conducting talks with China “on the modalities of the next peace conference.”
Hungary took over the Council’s six-month rotating presidency on July 1. Shortly afterward, Orbán, whose government has repeatedly blocked EU military aid to Ukraine, took off on a self-styled ‘peace mission,’ making controversial visits to Moscow, Beijing, Washington D.C., and Kyiv to allegedly broker a peace deal over the war in Ukraine. He didn’t, however, consult his European partners on this decision.
In the letter, MEPs said that the Hungarian leader “undertook several diplomatic visits, notably to visit Putin in Russia and Xi Jinping in China, during which he intentionally misrepresented his empowerments.”
The letter was supported by MEPs from many countries and parliamentary groups, including the Greens, EPP, and Renew, and it urged the Parliament to take action.
The move comes as Orbán issued a letter to EU leaders in which he stated that if Donald Trump wins the upcoming U.S. presidential election, he “will not wait until his inauguration” and will immediately “be ready to act as a peace broker” between Kyiv and Moscow.
The Hungarian PM, who has long criticized European military support for Ukraine in contrast to most allies who support Kyiv’s war effort, said that a potential Trump victory would change the burden between the United States and the EU when it comes to financial support for Ukraine, to the disadvantage of the Europeans.
He also suggested “reopening direct lines of diplomatic communication with Russia” while maintaining high-level contacts with Kyiv as well as conducting talks with China “on the modalities of the next peace conference.”
EC partly boycotts Hungary’s Council presidency
Just a day earlier, the EU’s executive branch announced that it would not send any top-ranking commissioners to informal Council meetings with Hungary and would instead send civil servants who have limited power.
"In light of recent developments marking the start of the Hungarian Presidency, [Ursula von der Leyen] has decided that the European Commission will be represented at senior civil servant level only during the informal meetings of the Council," EU spokesperson Eric Mamer said.
Orbán’s government hits back
In response, the Hungarian government accused Von der Leyen of playing self-interested political games.
“The EU is an international organization constituted by its member states," the Hungarian Minister for European Affairs, János Bóka, wrote on platform X.
“The EU Commission cannot cherry-pick institutions and member states it wants to cooperate with. Are all Commission decisions now based on political considerations?” he added.
The EU Council is one of the three main bodies of the EU, along with the European Commission and the European Parliament.
The Commission is the largest body, and it drafts and executes laws that are applied across the bloc. The Parliament, which is made up of MEPs from all 27 member state countries, and the Council have the joint role of approving legislation proposed by the Commission; they are dubbed ‘co-legislators.’
The presidency of the European Council rotates among EU member states every six months. During this period, the presidency sits in meetings at all levels of the Council and can vote on legislative acts proposed by the Commission.
According to the Council website, the presidency’s role entails “helping to ensure the continuity of the EU's work in the Council.”
It also “sets long-term goals and prepares a common agenda determining the topics and major issues that will be addressed by the Council over an 18-month period,” the website explains.
Hungary’s position at the Council’s presidency will end on 31 December this year.
Hungary’s position on the Ukraine war
While the Hungarian government has long been calling for peace and an immediate ceasefire in the conflict in Ukraine, it hasn’t clarified what a solution would look like with regards to both countries’ borders and security.
It has generally posed an adversarial position to Kyiv by blocking EU military aid to Ukraine and has been maintaining friendly ties with Moscow even after Russia’s invasion in February 2022.
Just a day earlier, the EU’s executive branch announced that it would not send any top-ranking commissioners to informal Council meetings with Hungary and would instead send civil servants who have limited power.
"In light of recent developments marking the start of the Hungarian Presidency, [Ursula von der Leyen] has decided that the European Commission will be represented at senior civil servant level only during the informal meetings of the Council," EU spokesperson Eric Mamer said.
The Commission president argued that “appeasement will not stop Putin. Only unity and determination will pave the path to a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace in Ukraine.”In light of recent developments marking the start of the Hungarian Presidency, the President has decided that @EU_Commission will be represented at senior civil servant level only during informal meetings of the Council.
— Eric Mamer (@MamerEric) July 15, 2024
The College visit to the Presidency will not take place.
Orbán’s government hits back
In response, the Hungarian government accused Von der Leyen of playing self-interested political games.
“The EU is an international organization constituted by its member states," the Hungarian Minister for European Affairs, János Bóka, wrote on platform X.
“The EU Commission cannot cherry-pick institutions and member states it wants to cooperate with. Are all Commission decisions now based on political considerations?” he added.
What is the EU Council’s role?The @HU24EU remains committed to sincere cooperation w/ #EU Member States & institutions. They have been invited to participate in Presidency events aimed at addressing common challenges. This task and responsibility is shared by all Member States and institutions. 1/2
— Bóka János (@JanosBoka_HU) July 15, 2024
The EU Council is one of the three main bodies of the EU, along with the European Commission and the European Parliament.
The Commission is the largest body, and it drafts and executes laws that are applied across the bloc. The Parliament, which is made up of MEPs from all 27 member state countries, and the Council have the joint role of approving legislation proposed by the Commission; they are dubbed ‘co-legislators.’
The presidency of the European Council rotates among EU member states every six months. During this period, the presidency sits in meetings at all levels of the Council and can vote on legislative acts proposed by the Commission.
According to the Council website, the presidency’s role entails “helping to ensure the continuity of the EU's work in the Council.”
It also “sets long-term goals and prepares a common agenda determining the topics and major issues that will be addressed by the Council over an 18-month period,” the website explains.
Hungary’s position at the Council’s presidency will end on 31 December this year.
Hungary’s position on the Ukraine war
While the Hungarian government has long been calling for peace and an immediate ceasefire in the conflict in Ukraine, it hasn’t clarified what a solution would look like with regards to both countries’ borders and security.
It has generally posed an adversarial position to Kyiv by blocking EU military aid to Ukraine and has been maintaining friendly ties with Moscow even after Russia’s invasion in February 2022.
Source: ft, politico, reuters
More In Politics MORE...
