The unusual start of Hungary’s presidency is causing a stir in the EU member states. Europe Minister Janus Boka answered the media’s questions in Brussels on Wednesday.
Hungarian Minister for Europe Janos Boka justifies the prime minister of his country Viktor Orban trip to Moscow with bilateral diplomacy, which according to him is not related to the country’s role as rotating EU Council President. Boka had to answer numerous questions on the subject at his press conference at the Hungarian embassy in Brussels on Wednesday.
Boka initially repeated Orban’s message.
– These discussions and the exchange of views that he had in the last few days were not in favor of the European Union. They were not drawn up on the basis of a mandate from the institutions of the European Union, he said.
Boka also appealed to the fact that there is no protocol on how to organize bilateral meetings.
– The member states do not have an agreed protocol for informing and coordinating the institutions and the member states before and after the visits, he said.
Boka was also asked why the logo of Hungary’s EU presidency appears in the videos that have been published from Orban’s trips to Moscow, among others. However, according to him, talking about logos does not promote a “serious” discussion on the subject.
Could there be consequences?
After the Hungarian Prime Minister’s unexpected trips, questions about whether Hungary’s presidency should end prematurely have also started to circulate in Brussels. Boka said that no official proposal of this kind has been made from any direction.
Hungary has, for example, repeatedly blocked and is still blocking several support solutions for Ukraine. However, Hungary stands behind Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, Boka assured.
– The Hungarian Prime Minister’s position is that if it is possible in any way to participate in facilitating the resolution of the armed conflict between Russia and Ukraine, it requires open diplomatic channels of communication with Russia. This is not prohibited by any international or European legislation.
The general European way of thinking about peace between Ukraine and Russia is that Ukraine should decide for itself when and under what conditions it will accept peace negotiations with Russia, which invaded the country. Until now, Ukraine should be assisted to defend its territorial integrity.
The ambassadors of the EU countries are also expected to discuss the original start of Hungary’s presidency behind closed doors on Wednesday.