WNAM REPORT: The head of the European Commission (EC), Ursula von der Leyen, canceled the EC delegation’s visit to Hungary and reduced the level of representation at the informal meetings of the European Council, which is chaired by Hungary.
The European Commission has decided to boycott Hungary’s EU Council presidency in response to Viktor Orbán’s controversial visits to Moscow and Beijing, which many considered an insult to the bloc’s political unity, the information published on the website of the international TV channel reads.
“In view of the subsequent events related to the Hungarian presidency, the leader (Ursula von der Leyen) has decided that the European Commission will only participate in informal meetings of the Council at the level of a senior civil servant,” said EC spokesman Eric Mamer.
“(The European Commission) board does not travel to the presiding country,” he said.
Orban, who recently visited Moscow, met with Russian President Vladimir Putin. A few days later, a rocket of the Russian army hit the children’s hospital in Kyiv .
In Beijing, Orbán praised Xi Jinping’s “China Peace Plan”, which was rejected by the EU leadership.
“China is the only power in the world that adheres to the principle of peace from the beginning,” said Orban.
Budapest says Orbán’s so-called “reconciliation mission” was carried out as part of bilateral diplomacy. However, there were those who criticized the timing of the international visit, the choice of countries and the use of the official symbol of Hungary’s EU presidency.
Orbán also attended an informal summit of the Organization of Turkic States, which includes the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, recognized only by Turkey, which has also been criticized by some.
Ursula von der Leyen’s decision by the European Commission means that Brussels will not participate at the highest level in Budapest’s events until the end of the year.
Hungarian EU Affairs Minister János Bóka said the country holding the presidency was still “committed to true partnership” to solve “common problems”.
