Brussels (The Brussels Morning Newspaper)- The European Commission will not send specialist commissioners to informal gatherings arranged by the Hungarian EU presidency
Why Won’t the EU Send Commissioners to Hungary Meetings?
“In light of recent developments marking the start of the Hungarian Presidency, the President has decided that (the EU Commission) will be represented at senior civil servant level only during informal meetings of the Council”, Eric Mamer, spokesman for the European Commission president, stated.
“The College visit to the Presidency will not take place”, he said. The decision, which Mamer stated in a separate message to Journalists is not limited in time, effectively devalues the EU Commission’s participation as specialist commissioners for the policy scope under discussion normally attend EU ministerial meetings.
How Did Hungary React to the EU Commission’s Decision?
On the other hand, Hungary blamed the EU Commission for cherry-picking after it stated it would not send its commissioners to informal conferences organised by the Hungarian EU presidency.
“The EU is an international organisation constituted by its member states. The EU Commission is an institution of the EU,” stated Hungarian Minister for European Affairs Janos Boka on the social media platform X. “The EU Commission cannot cherry-pick institutions and member states it desires to cooperate with. Are all Commission decisions now based on political considerations?” he said.
What Are Hungary’s Accusations Against the EU Commission?
Kinga Gal, EU lawmaker and vice president of Orban’s Fidesz party, stated the move was part of von der Leyen’s election campaign. “We have become utilised to her using the EU institutions, especially against Hungary, for political blackmail and pressure,” she stated on X. “This is unacceptable and goes against the very essence of European cooperation.”
In a discussion with the Hungarian newspaper Magyar Nemzet, Orbán’s political director stated the prime minister had informed the leaders of other EU countries “in writing about the negotiations, the incidents of the first phase of the peace mission and the Hungarian proposals”.
“If Europe wants peace and wants to have a decisive say in settling the war and ending the bloodshed, it must now work out and implement a change of direction,” stated Balázs Orbán. “A realistic assessment of the situation, realistic goals and the right timing – that’s our approach.”
Why Did Von der Leyen Halt Commission’s Participation?
Hungary assumed the rotating position on 1 July and since then Orban has visited Ukraine, Russia, Azerbaijan, China, and the United States on a world expedition he has lauded as a “peace mission” sought at brokering an end to Russia’s war in Ukraine. That outraged many leaders in the EU, who stated they had not been reported in advance of Orbán’s plans. His country is friendly with Russia and has gone against the policy of most EU countries on support for Ukraine.
After Orbán’s unannounced travel to Moscow for discussions with Putin on 5 July – the first such visit from an EU leader of state or government in more than two years – von der Leyen charged him of trying to mollify the Russian leader, reporting on X: “Appeasement will not prevent Putin. Only unity and resolution will pave the path to a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine.”
