EU foreign ministers intend to ignore Hungary by organizing their own summit in August instead of traveling to Budapest for Orbán’s event, Espreso reports.
According to Politico, Hungary, which currently holds the EU Council presidency, plans to hold a summit of foreign ministers in Budapest on August 28-29. In return, EU foreign ministers want to take revenge on Orbán for obstructing aid to Ukraine and making so-called peaceful visits to Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping, which he did not coordinate with 26 other EU leaders.
In their opinion, this summit could become another propaganda show by Orbán, so they intend to organize their own summit, ignoring the meeting of foreign ministers in Budapest.
Thus, according to three EU diplomats, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell plans to convene ministers for an “official” foreign ministers’ council simultaneously with Orbán’s summit.
If an official council of foreign ministers organized by the High Representative takes place on the same day, the ministers will not be able to go to Budapest, – one diplomat said.
According to another, by boycotting the meeting in Budapest, the other foreign ministers wanted to “send a clear message that Hungary does not speak for the EU”.
This plan has already been discussed informally with several EU countries, including France and Germany. On Wednesday, July 17, Borrell’s team will present the plan to the 27 EU permanent representatives.
