The EU Commission President announced that no commissioners will participate in future informal ministerial meetings chaired by the current EU Council Presidency in Hungary. In addition, the EU Commission is abandoning the traditional opening visit of the Hungarian presidency
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen reacts to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s unilateral actions in Ukraine policy with a boycott decision. The German top politician announced that future informal ministerial meetings chaired by the current EU Council Presidency in Hungary will not be attended by commissioners, but only by high-ranking officials.
In addition, a spokesperson announced that the EU Commission would abandon the traditional opening visit to the Hungarian presidency. In a letter to the heads of EU institutions obtained by APA, 63 MEPs previously called for Hungary’s voting rights in the EU Council to be withdrawn: “The Hungarian presidency has only just begun, and Prime Minister Orbán has already done considerable damage.” The letter was initiated by the Estonian Riho Terras (EPP). From Austria, appointed NEOS MPs Helmut Brandstätter and Anna Sturk and ÖVP mandate Lukas Mandel signed.
“Abuse of the position of Chairman”
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, whose country holds the EU’s rotating presidency from July 1, “exploited and abused the role of the Council Presidency”. Commission President Ursula van der Leyen, Council President Charles Michael and Parliament Speaker Roberta Metzola were called upon to do everything in their power to disenfranchise Hungary. This can be done as part of an Article 7 procedure against a country that was launched years ago for violating the rule of law.
The letter criticized several of the Hungarian prime minister’s self-imposed engagements since early July, particularly with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing. He “deliberately misrepresented his powers” and “deliberately gave the impression that he was acting on behalf of the entire EU”. In addition, Orbán is seriously undermining common EU positions, for example the ceasefire in Ukraine.
EU leaders called for “decisive action”.
In view of this “abuse of power”, EU leaders are called to take “decisive action”. “Mere verbal reprimands” “have no effect.” Currently only in Hungary the Article 7 procedure still continues. The match against Poland was called off in June due to insufficient progress in reforms. So far, these measures have never reached the level of depriving an EU country of its voting rights. A prerequisite for withdrawal of voting rights is a unanimous decision of the remaining member states.
“During his travels, Orbán not only abuses his role, but also endangers the unity of the European Union. Claiming to represent the entire European Union, Orbán clearly violates his authority. In this extreme situation, mere verbal reprimands are no longer enough. In order to protect the integrity and ability of our Union to function, It is now urgent that we implement and take away Hungary’s right to vote in the Council,” commented Helmut Brandstatter, NEOS Foreign Policy Spokesperson and Designated MEP, who signed the letter to APA. NEOS appeals to all national and European representatives to present a unified and unified approach to the Hungarian Council President.
Hungary withheld support from Ukraine
The European Parliament, elected in early June, meets for the first time in Strasbourg on Tuesday. The first resolution of the new parliament to be passed on Wednesday evening could criticize Orban: it could be made as part of a resolution supporting Ukraine. Hungary has blocked several EU decisions supporting Ukraine in recent months. A year ago, Parliament overwhelmingly called for the suspension of Hungary’s Council Presidency. According to the parliamentary agenda, Orbán will not address the first plenary session during Hungary’s rotating presidency. He did not present his country’s priorities until September. This usually happens in the first session. (APA/dpa)
