EU countries scold Orbán for visits to Putin and Xi but will not remove him from the presidency

In a closed-door meeting, ambassadors from 25 of the 27 member states have He scolded his Hungarian colleague on Wednesday claiming that Orbán’s actions constitute an abuse of the prerogatives of the presidency in order to undermine European unity and sow confusion on the international scene. Slovakia has been the only country to support Hungary.

However, EU countries have shied away from taking concrete retaliatory measures against Hungary. “Nobody raised the question of ending or shortening the presidency, and no concrete measures have been presented or adopted. But a clear message has been sent with almost unanimous consent,” a European diplomat explained to EL ESPAÑOL. Nor has there been any open discussion about boycotting the informal meetings in Budapest by sending low-level representatives.

[La UE desautoriza a Orbán: “No tiene ningún mandato para negociar con Putin”]

“In just 9 days, the Hungarian presidency has lost the minimum amount of trust that there was in it. Member States have clearly called Orbán into account and have been very harsh in condemning the actions of the Hungarian presidency. The message has been very clear: the Hungarian presidency is not playing its role as an honest broker. Orbán does not represent the EU or the Member States. His actions do not serve the EU or peace, but they play the game of Putin and his war project“, denounces another European diplomat.

At the beginning of the meeting, the Hungarian ambassador tried to argue to his colleagues that Orbán’s visits were strictly bilateralwith the sole aim of assessing the feasibility and conditions of a ceasefire in Ukraine. “My prime minister has already said that he did not act on behalf of the EU nor did he have a mandate from the EU or its institutions to negotiate,” explained the Hungarian Minister for European Affairs, Janos Bokaat a press conference in Brussels that appeared to have been called to limit damage.

Bóka has claimed that “there is no agreed protocol” that requires coordination and informing the rest of the EU partners of “bilateral visits.” Orbán did not notify Brussels in advance of his trip to Moscow because it was a “very sensitive visit,” but he did send a Confidential note to all European leaders in which he details what he spoke with Putin and whose content has already been leaked.

“According to the Russians, time is not on the side of Ukraine but on the side of the Russian forces. President Putin made no reference to Russian casualties. As for the Ukrainian casualtiesthe Russians estimate that they are located between 40,000 and 50,000 soldiers per month “These are the main reasons why the ceasefires have intensified in recent weeks. That is why the Russian president is surprised that the Ukrainian president has rejected a temporary ceasefire. According to the Russian president, they are ready to consider any ceasefire proposal that does not serve the covert relocation and redeployment of Ukrainian forces,” Orbán’s note to European leaders says.

The visit of the Prime Minister of Hungary to Moscow “has not violated any international, European or national rules” Nor does it fail to meet the requirements of loyal cooperation required of EU members, says its European Affairs Minister. Budapest has never deviated from the duties of its presidency.

However, Hungary’s arguments have not convinced the other partners at all. Ambassadors from the other 25 countries (except Slovakia) have replied that it is not credible to claim that Orbán’s visits to Moscow and Beijing were strictly bilateral. They took place right at the start of the Hungarian presidency, his logo was used in public communication and Both Putin and Xi stressed that Orbán represented the EU presidency.

“The dividing lines have been clearly and deliberately erased.. And Orbán has acted against the letter and spirit of the conclusions of the European Council, thereby damaging the unity of the EU,” the sources said.

For their part, the Council’s legal services also stressed “clearly and forcefully” during the meeting that all Member States are bound by the principle of sincere cooperation and that The rotating presidency has only a limited role in the EU’s external representation..

The unanimous criticism from the other partners has so far led the Hungarian presidency to moderate its tone, but not to rectify its positions. “Some Member States have made it clear that they do not consider it appropriate Maintain open diplomatic channels with Russia“This is something that is not prohibited by any international or European legislation,” said the Minister for European Affairs.

“The Hungarian position is that if there is any chance that this will lead to a solution to the conflict and save human lives, then it is a responsibility that we must assume,” Bóka argues.