Brussels (The Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Josep Borrell, the EU’s foreign policy chief, stated that the following meeting of foreign ministers would now carried out in Brussels, rather than in Hungary.
The European Union’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borell, has deprived Hungary of the right to host the next session of foreign and defence ministers over its perspective on the war in Ukraine. Josep Borrell expressed that the next meeting of EU foreign and defence ministers would now take place in Brussels rather than in Hungary, where it would be anticipated to take place as Budapest presently holds the rotating six-month EU presidency.
How did Borrell justify the meeting relocation?
“We have to send a signal, even if it is a symbolic signal, that being against the foreign policy of the European Union … has to have some consequences,” Borrell said. Borrell stated he had decided to hold the next meeting in Brussels after almost every EU foreign minister assembling on Monday was critical of Hungary’s expressed position on Kyiv, Russia and the war in Ukraine.
Which ministers were critical of Hungary’s position?
The EU’s top diplomat Borrell stated that several EU foreign ministers had voiced their unwillingness to proceed to Budapest for their next meeting of foreign and defense ministers, which is set to take place in late August. Borrell declared “All member states — with one single exception — are very much critical about this behaviour” from Hungary, adding that he believed it was “appropriate to show this feeling and to call for the next foreign and defence council meetings in Brussels.”
He however told reporters that the action was not a “boycotting” of Hungary and that the nation would be present at the next gathering. “The meeting will work with the full participation of all member states,” Borrell pressed.
How did Hungary’s Foreign Minister respond?
Hungary’s Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó explained the decision to strip Hungary of its hosting duties as “childish,” telling reporters, “I don’t want to offend anyone, but it’s probably a kindergarten-level debate,” according to Reuters.
What was Luxembourg’s Foreign Minister’s view?
On the other hand, Luxembourg’s Foreign Minister Xavier Bettel, said that he would proceed to Budapest because a boycott would be “nonsense”. Mr Bettel deemed that it was better to tell the Hungarians the EU was disappointed with their actions as “ignoring or not choosing dialogue would be a mistake”.
What alternative location was suggested for the meeting?
Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski suggested that the August session should take place in western Ukraine, but that idea was thwarted by Budapest. Responding to Mr Borrell’s decision, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto noted on Facebook: “What a fantastic response they have come up with. “I don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings, but it feels like being in a kindergarten.”
How did the EU react to Orban’s “peace mission”?
Mr Orban’s discussion with Mr Putin came as part of what he characterised as a “peace mission” – established days after Hungary adopted the council presidency – that also witnessed him visiting the leaders of Ukraine and China, as well as Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump in the US. The trip flashed condemnation from leaders across the EU, with European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen expressing it as “nothing but an appeasement mission”.
