The EU is planning to discuss Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s recent “peace mission” to Kyiv, Moscow, and Beijing. These visits could jeopardize Hungary’s presidency of the EU Council.
Politico writes about this, citing diplomatic sources, Hromadske reports.
According to one of the Brussels-based sources, Orbán’s diplomatic mission “killed” Hungary’s EU presidency. The source noted that after the Hungarian prime minister’s meeting with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, Hungary’s presidency “ends before it begins”.
Politico also writes that on Wednesday, July 10, EU ambassadors will discuss the Hungarian presidency and Orbán’s recent trips at their meeting. Another diplomat said that an upcoming meeting of EU ambassadors is being discussed, adding that “there is very clear political disapproval” of Hungary’s actions.
Tensions will continue to rise during Hungary’s presidency, the publication writes, as Budapest is blocking EU funding for weapons that Ukraine is supposed to receive.
At the same time, Politico notes that Brussels is not likely to immediately deprive Hungary of the presidency, although mechanisms for this exist. Thus, a qualified four-fifths majority in the European Council would be needed to change the rotating presidency schedule and move the start date of Poland’s future presidency a few months earlier.
