The EU’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, has stripped Hungary of its right to host the next meeting of foreign and defense ministers because of its stance on the war in Ukraine.
This comes just weeks after Hungary assumed the rotating presidency of the European Council, a role in which Hungary usually hosts the event, and has sparked outrage. Through the meeting Prime Minister Viktor Orban met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow earlier this month.
Minister Borrell said Hungary’s actions would have consequences and “we must send a signal, even if it is only a symbolic signal.”
Hungary described the move as “completely childish”.
Every six months, under the new Council presidency, EU foreign and defence ministers meet informally to discuss the biggest global challenges facing the bloc.
The next meeting was scheduled to be held in Budapest on August 28-30, but Mr Borrell announced on Monday that it would be held in Brussels.
“If you want to talk about a war party, talk about Putin,” Borrell told reporters after his meeting with Putin, citing comments made by Prime Minister Orban accusing the EU of having “pro-war policies.”
“I would say that all member states – except one – are very critical of this action.
“I think it is appropriate to show these sentiments and to call for the next meeting of the Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee to be held in Brussels.”
Of the 26 other EU countries, only Slovakia supported Hungary in the dispute.
But Luxembourg’s Foreign Minister Xavier Bettel told reporters he would go to Budapest because a boycott was “nonsense.” Mr Bettel thought it would be better to tell Hungary that the EU was unhappy with its actions, because “it would be a mistake to ignore or not talk.”
Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski proposed holding the August talks in western Ukraine, but Budapest blocked the idea.
In response to Minister Borrell’s decision, Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjarto wrote on Facebook: “The response they have come up with is absolutely fantastic.
“I don’t want to offend anyone, but I feel like I’m in kindergarten.”
The meeting between Prime Minister Orban and President Putin took place as follows: Part of what he described as a “peace mission” – Launched just days after Hungary assumed the council presidency – Visited by leaders from Ukraine and China, as well as Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump in the United States.
The trip drew condemnation from leaders across the EU, with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen describing it as “nothing more than a consolation mission”.
Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orfo said Mr Orban had “no authority to negotiate or discuss on behalf of the EU”, while Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said the visit “sent the wrong signal to the outside world and was an insult to the Ukrainian people’s struggle for freedom”.
The incident is one of several that have left Hungary at odds with most EU member states over the appropriate response since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Prime Minister Orban, who won reelection just months after the invasion in April 2022, told supporters that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was one of his choices. “We have to fight” This is his fourth term.
He was in Hungary last year Right to veto delay Provides Ukraine with a non-military financial aid package worth €50 billion (£42 billion).
