Politico newspaper reported that European Union leaders are planning to boycott the foreign ministers conference organized by Hungary , scheduled to take place on August 28-29.
Instead, EU Commissioner for Foreign Policy, Mr. Josep Borrell, is said to be considering summoning foreign ministers to a meeting of the foreign affairs council at the time when Hungary holds a foreign ministers' conference - a move aimed at preventing foreign ministers from meeting. foreign minister attended the event chaired by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.
According to Politico, the move was discussed informally with several EU members, including Germany and France, following Prime Minister Orban's recent visit to Russia, which was criticized by other EU politicians.
“If there is an official foreign affairs council meeting, organized by high representative Borrell on the same day, foreign ministers will not be able to go to Budapest,” an EU diplomat told Politico.
Another diplomat said the foreign ministers wanted to "send a clear signal that Hungary cannot speak on behalf of the EU".
On July 1, Hungary officially assumed the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union with a term lasting until December 31 of this year. This position has long been taken on by EU members, defined as holding the balance within the EU and leading the EU, negotiating on behalf of all EU members with the European Parliament (EP) and the Commission. EU Committee on all major and minor EU policy decisions.
Hungary is the only member critical of the EU's stance on the conflict in Ukraine and has refused to send weapons to Kiev. Prime Minister Orban also suspended financial aid to Ukraine and repeatedly warned that neither Budapest nor all of Europe should be drawn into a war with Russia.
Prime Minister Orban traveled to Kiev, Moscow and Beijing in early July, arguing that his “peace mission” was a mediation effort to end the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. He also affirmed that he did not come to Russia or Ukraine to represent the EU.
Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas - who was nominated to replace Mr. Borrell as EU Commissioner for foreign security policy - criticized the visit, accusing Mr. Orban of "taking advantage of his position as EU president to sow confusion." .
Also according to Politico, the EU's angry reaction to Prime Minister Orban's visit to Russia could cause the bloc to strip Hungary of its rotating presidency.
Hungary had a tense relationship with the EU even before the conflict in Ukraine broke out. The European Union accuses Budapest's conservative government of eroding the rule of law in the country. However, Prime Minister Orban emphasized that EU officials are trying to impose their will on Budapest and trample on the country's sovereignty.
