EU ‘plans to boycott’ major summit by Hungary’s Viktor Orban | World | News
Viktor Orban‘s first major foreign policy meeting since Hungary took on the rotating presidency of the Council of the EU may be snubbed by key players as tensions within the 27-strong bloc continue to rise.
Hungary is planning to host a foreign affairs summit in Budapest between August 28 and 29, which would provide the Hungarian Prime Minister and his Foreign Affairs Minister Péter Szijjártó a platform to voice their agenda for the bloc – unlikely to include any progress for Ukraine’s bid to join the EU.
But after being a thorn in the EU’s side for months by obstructing aid for Ukraine and maintaining ties with Vladimir Putin, European foreign ministers are said to be unwilling to take part in the event by Mr Orban.
Joseph Borrell, the EU’s foreign policy chief, is reportedly planning an alternative event to allow ministers to snub the Hungarian summit, according to three EU diplomats who spoke to Politico.
One said: “If there’s a formal foreign affairs council, organized by the high representative [Borrell] the same day, the ministers won’t be able to go to Budapest.”
Another said the boycott would “send a clear signal that Hungary does not speak for the EU“.
EU leaders tried to clearly deliver this message earlier this month, after Mr Orban travelled to Russia for a meeting with Putin as part of what the Hungarian leader called a “peace mission”.
The decision to undertake a similar trip just days into the beginning of Hungary’s presidency of the Council of the EU forced Brussels to stress Mr Orban was not on a mission backed by the bloc.
Charles Michel, the outgoing president of the Council, stated: “The EU rotating presidency has no mandate to engage with Russia on behalf of the EU. No discussions about Ukraine can take place without Ukraine.”
The Hungarian foreign policy summit would not be the first chance for EU leaders to send a strong signal to Budapest. An informal meeting of industry ministers led on July 9 by Hungary’s National Economy Minister Márton Nagy was attended only by seven ministers and no EU commissioner.
The summit was held days after Mr Orban had once again upset Brussels by meeting Chinese President Xi Jinping in light of punitive tariffs slapped on Chinese EVs by Brussels.
