In a significant development within the EU diplomatic circles, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell has moved the venue for informal EU Foreign Affairs and Defence Ministers meetings from Budapest to Brussels. This decision follows Borrell’s recent critical remarks on Hungarian President Viktor Orbán’s stance, which Borrell described as disloyal to the EU. This move marks an assertive response to Orbán’s controversial “peace mission” and anti-EU rhetoric.
During a press conference on Monday, Borrell firmly countered Orbán’s claim that the EU is “pro-war.” He stated unequivocally, “the only one who’s pro-war is Putin, who is calling for the Ukraine partition and rendition as pre-conditions for any talks and any ceasefire […] If you want to talk about the ‘war party,’ talk about Putin. Not about the European Union.” This strong rebuke underscores the tension between Hungary and the broader EU, especially regarding the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Borrell emphasized the importance of EU member states adhering to the collective policies outlined in treaties, notably underlining the duty of loyalty enshrined in Article 24.3 of the Treaty of the EU. “This is not something you can do or not – you have to,” Borrell stated, reinforcing that such principles are integral to the EU’s functionality and cohesion.
The Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó dismissed the boycott of Hungary’s hosting duties as a “kindergarten-level debate,” while Orbán had previously commented to CNBC about his duty to persuade the EU to shift from a pro-war policy to a pro-peace policy. This stance has placed Hungary at odds with its EU partners, further highlighted by Orbán’s meetings with Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping on his recent peace mission.
For further details and developments on this issue, the original report can be found on JURIST.