Strasbourg (The Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The European Parliament has vehemently criticised Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban for meeting President Vladimir Putin in Moscow.
The European Parliament denounced the visit of the Prime Minister of Hungary, currently conforming the rotating EU Presidency, Viktor Orban to Russia with the so-called “peace mission” for Ukraine. Hungary assumed the rotating six-month EU presidency in July, a position which puts Budapest in charge of managing EU meetings but does not qualify Orban to perform diplomacy on behalf of the 27-country EU. In a resolution, the European Parliament criticised Orban’s Russia visit as a heinous violation of the EU’s Treaties and common foreign policy.
How did MEPs react to Orban’s meeting with Putin?
The corresponding resolution was assumed on Wednesday in Strasbourg during the foremost plenary session of the new European Parliament. The resolution, which also contained sections on the EU’s continued support for Ukraine, was embraced by a large majority of 495 EU MPs, out of the 679 that voted. The text says that Hungary should face repercussions for these activities. Given the Hungarian Prime Minister’s so-called “peace mission” was immediately pursued by the children’s hospital attack, the resolution also states this shows the “irrelevance” of Orbán’s alleged peace efforts.
What does EU Parliament resolution say about Orban’s Russia visit?
“The European Parliament condemns the recent visit of the Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban to the Russian Federation; stresses that during this visit, he did not represent the EU, and considers the visit to be a blatant violation of the EU’s Treaties and common foreign policy, including the principle of sincere cooperation,” the resolution express.
What consequences does the EU Parliament suggest for Orban’s actions?
“The European Parliament stresses that the Hungarian Prime Minister cannot claim to represent the EU when breaking common EU positions; considers that this violation should be met with repercussions for Hungary; recalls that in the direct aftermath of the Hungarian Prime Minister’s so-called peace mission, Russia struck the Okhmatdyt children’s hospital in Kyiv, showing the inapplicability of his alleged efforts, which have been met with scepticism from the Ukrainian leadership,” the resolution states.
In addition, the European Parliament “restates its support for the peace formula presented by Ukraine’s President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy; laments the fact that Hungary has abused its veto power in the Council to control essential aid from being granted to Ukraine; demands Hungary to lift its blockade of the European Peace Facility grant for Ukraine, including the agreed reimbursement for Member States for military assistance already delivered.”
