EU Stance on Hungary's Presidency Sparks Controversy

The European Union announced its top officials will boycott informal meetings hosted by Hungary during the country’s EU presidency. This decision follows Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's controversial meetings with foreign leaders about Ukraine, which have angered European partners. Some member states, however, are frowning on Brussels’ unprecedented move.

The European Commission, the EU's executive body, made a significant announcement this week regarding its participation in Hungary's Council presidency. The Commission has decided to forgo sending its commissioners to informal meetings hosted by Hungary and has canceled its customary visit to Budapest, which typically marks the beginning of each new Council of the EU presidency.

The Commission has characterized the decision as a "symbolic gesture" rather than an outright boycott, as civil servants will still represent the Commission at informal gatherings instead of high-ranking officials.

The decision is viewed as unprecedented in EU politics. It has the potential to strain future political relations between EU member states and the Commission. It highlights tensions between Hungary and EU leadership, and may set a new precedent for how the Commission interacts with member states holding the rotating Council presidency.

Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s recent diplomatic engagements, which he describes as a “peace mission,” included visits to Ukraine, Russia, Azerbaijan, China, and the United States. The premier visited these countries immediately after Hungary took over the EU’s rotating 6-month presidency.

The visits, made without prior consultation with other EU leaders, have further strained relations. Hungary’s Europe Minister János Bóka criticized the Commission’s stance, accusing it of selective cooperation.

The decision to limit top-level attendance at these meetings comes amid Hungary’s controversial stance on Ukraine. Unlike most EU countries, Hungary has refused to supply weapons to Kyiv and has threatened to block financial aid. Orbán's alignment with Russia and his independent foreign policy actions have been perceived as undermining EU unity.

Hungary's government has consistently advocated for an immediate ceasefire and peace negotiations in the Ukraine conflict. However, it has not clarified the implications for Ukraine's territorial integrity and security. Hungary has adopted an adversarial stance toward Ukraine while maintaining close relations with Moscow, even following Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022. This alignment with Russia has put Hungary at odds with other EU member states, highlighting its unique and controversial position within the European Union regarding the Ukraine crisis.

At the same time, the move by the European Commission has also sparked dissent within the EU. Some member states view the boycott as a political maneuver that could inadvertently bolster Orbán’s position, a diplomat talking to Euronews on condition of anonymity said.

A second diplomatic source indicated that during a meeting last week, most EU member states expressed their disappointment after the European Commission disclosed its plan to boycott Hungary's informal meetings. The source emphasized that the EU executive is expected to maintain impartiality in its actions, suggesting that the boycott might be seen as politically motivated and potentially detrimental to the collaborative work of the Council.