The European Commission takes the far-reaching and unprecedented decision to boycott the Hungarian EU presidency in response to Prime Minister Orbán’s recent, uncoordinated trips to Moscow and China.
Only two weeks after the start of the Hungarian EU presidency, the Commission announced that it would no longer send a political delegation to meetings organized by Hungary as President of the Council of the European Union in Hungary.
The reason is Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s recent, uncoordinated visits to Moscow and China – in his own words a ‘peace mission’. Orbán did not inform other EU countries about his trips with the logo of the EU presidency. On Monday, Orbán informed Hungarian media that he had drawn up a ‘peace plan’ for the war in Ukraine, which he wants to share with European colleagues.
The Commission’s decision has never been taken before and marks a new escalation in the relationship between Hungary and the rest of the European Union. Last week, ambassadors from many EU countries summoned their Hungarian counterpart in Brussels about Orbán’s travels. The fact that the Hungarian Prime Minister clearly suggested that he travel and speak on behalf of the EU is unacceptable according to other EU countries. Out of dissatisfaction, many EU countries also sent an official to meetings in Hungary last week, instead of the usual minister or state secretary.
The Commission will also no longer travel to Budapest for the usual official visit to the presiding EU country. In Brussels there is also a plan to sabotage a meeting of foreign ministers in Budapest at the end of August by simultaneously organizing a meeting for those ministers in Brussels.
Hungary has held the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union since July 1, meaning Hungarian ministers will lead the European Councils of Ministers and set the agenda for the next six months. In theory, a European member state does this completely neutrally and impartially, but at the same time it is a period in which you as president can generate attention for yourself and relevant national themes.
Ahead of the start of the presidency, fears and discomfort were already growing in Brussels about Hungary’s upcoming role. In recent years, both Brussels and other EU countries have been at constant odds with Orbán, including over the rule of law, but also over Hungarian blockades of sanctions for Russia and support for Ukraine. Last year, a majority of the European Parliament already argued in favor of suspending the Hungarian presidency.
Hungarian Minister of EU Affairs János Bóka expressed outrage at the Commission’s boycott on Monday evening on X. “The Commission cannot simply choose the institutions and Member States with which it wants to cooperate. Are all Commission decisions now based on political considerations?”
